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\V  PRINCETON,  N.  J.  *'f// 


Purchased   by  the 
Mrs.    Robert   Lenox   Kennedy  Church   History   Fund. 


Division.. 

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Section 

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v,x 

A  History  of  the 

Church  in  Narragansett 

II 


A  History  of 
THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

IN  NARRAGANSETT 

Rhode  Island 

Including  a  History  of  Other  Episcopal 
Churches  in  the  State 

By  WILKINS  UPDIKE 

With  a  Transcript  of  the  Narragansett  Tarish  Register,  from 
171 8  to  1 774;  an  Appendix  containing  a  Reprint  of  a  Work 
entitled  ^America  Uisse^ed  by  the  Rev'^  James  MacSpar- 
ran^  d.d.,  and  Copies  of  Other  Old  Papers;  together  with 
Notes  containing  Genealogical  and  Biographical  Accounts 
of  Distinguished  Men,  Families,  i^c. 

Second  Edition,  newly  edited^  enlarged,  and  corrected  by  the 

Reverend  Daniel  Goodwin,  ph.d.,  d.d. 
sometime  Re5iorofSt.  TauVs  Church,  Wickford,  Narragansett 
Illustrated  by  fifty  Portraits  after  old  Paintings;    together 
with  six  Uiews  of  Historic  Localities,  and  several  Facsimiles 


Boston:  Printed  and  Published  by  D.  B.  Updike 

The  Merrymount  Press 

1907 


COPYRIGHT,    1907,    BY   DANIEL   BERKELEY  UPDIKE 


THE   MERRYMOUNT  PRESS,    BOSTON 


Contents:  Volume  II 

Page 

CHAPTER  XIII.  A.D.  1760 

The  Arrival  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Fayerweather  in  Narragansett. 
Correspondence  between  the  Venerable  Society  and  the  Ves- 
try of  St.  Paul's  Church.  Dr.  MacSparran's  Disposition  of  his 
Estate  and  the  Purchase  of  his  Farm  for  a  Glebe.  The  Willet 
Family.  Matthew  Robinson.  Lodowick  Updike  I 

CHAPTER  XIV.  A.D.  1761  to  a.d.  1765 
Judge  Carder  Hazard.  Martin  Reed.  Daniel  Updike,  of  East 
Greenwich.  Governor  Bernard.  The  Rev.  Peter  Bours.  The 
Rev.  Joshua  Wingate  Weeks.  The  Wanton  Family.  The  Rev. 
Thomas  Winthrop  Coit,  D.D.  1 7 

CHAPTER  XV.  A.D.  1765  to  A.D.  1768 
Bishop  Edward  Bass,  D.D.  Dr.  Joshua  Babcock,  of  Westerly. 
Colonel  Harry  Babcock.  Rev.  Henry  Caner,  D.D.  Major  Ben- 
jamin Brenton.  The  Rev.  James  Greaton.  The  Rev.  John 
Lyons.  Governor  George  Brown  46 

CHAPTER  XVI.  A.D.  1769-1770 

The  Tweedy  Family.  The  Hazard  Family.  John  Gardiner,  of 
Boston  Neck.  John  Case,  of  Tower  Hill.  "George  Rome, 
Esq.,  a  Gentelman  of  Estate"  63 

CHAPTER  XVII.  A.D.  1770  to  a.d.  1774 
The  Honourable  James  Honyman.  The  Rev.  Marmaduke 
Browne.  Christening  "Gossips."  Colonel  Whailey,  the  Regi- 
cide. Colonel  John  Gardiner.  Bishop  Parker  92 

CHAPTER  XVIII.  A.D.  1774  to  A.D.  1840 
The  Close  of  Mr.  Fayerweather's  Ministry  in  Narragansett. 
His  Death  and  Burial.  His  Will  and  the  Disposition  of  his 
Books  and  Piftures.  The  Rev.  William  Smith.  The  Rev.  Wal- 
ter C.  Gardiner.  The  Rev.  Joseph  Warren.  The  Removal 
of  St.  Paul's  Church  to  Wickford.  The  Later  Redlors  of  the 
Parish  109 

CHAPTER  XIX.  Warwick  Church,  a.  d.  1726  to  a.  d.  1764 
The  Lippitt  Family.  The  Stafford  Family.  Richard  Greene. 
Thomas  Wickcs.  Colonel  Christopher  Greene  117 

CHAPTER   XX.  Other  Churches  in  the  Narragansett 

Country 

Tower   Hill    Church.   Westerly  Church.    East   Greenwich 

Church.  Kingston  Church.  Wakefield  Church  144 


IV 


Table  of  Contents 


CHAPTER  XXI.  Trinity  Church,  Newport 

Memoir  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport,  from  1698  to  1 8 10. 

Compiled  from  the  Records,  by  Henry  Bull,  Esq.  With  Notes 

by  the  Redlor,  Rev.  Francis  Vinton  [1840-44]  151 

CHAPTER  XXII.  Saint  John's  (King's)  Church,  Provi- 
dence 

Saint  John's  Church,  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  as  gathered 
from  the  Records,  by  William  T.  Dorrance,  Esq.  179 

CHAPTER  XXIII.  Saint  Michael's  Church,  Bristol 

Saint  Michael's  Church,  Bristol:  A  Sketch  Contributed  [by 

a  Writer  unknown]  to  the  Christian  Witness  in  1840  215 

NOTES  BY  THE   EDITOR  (Numbers  535  to  910)  237 

RECORDS  OF  ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH,  NARRAGAN- 
SETT(i7i8-i774)  461 


List  of  Illustrations 
Volume  II 

I.  PORTRAITS 

Facing  page 

REV.  SAMUEL  FAYERWEATHER  i 

From  a  portrait  by  an  unknown  painter^  in  the  possession 
of  Miss  Elizabeth  Harris^  Cambridge. 

REV.  SAMUEL  FAYERWEATHER  6 

From  a  painting  by  fohn  Singleton  Copley^  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Miss  Mary  Andros  Eddy  and  Miss  Isabel  Eddy^ 
of  Providence.  Formerly  the  property  of  Wilkins  Updike. 

REV.  PETER  BOURS  28 

From  the  painting  by  f.  Blackburn^  now  in  the  possession 
of  Harvard  University. 

JOSEPH  WANTON, lastRoyalGovernor  ofRhodeIsland     36 
From  the  painting  attributed  to  Thomas  Hudson  in  the 
Cabinet  of  the  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society^  Provi- 
dence. Formerly  the  property  of  the  Destailleur  family. 

MRS.    JOSEPH    WANTON    [Called    "Lady   Wanton"] 
(Mary  Winthrop)  44 

From  the  painting  by  Robert  Feke^  in  the  Redwood  Li- 
brary^ Newport. 

ADAM  BABCOCK  52 

From  the  portrait  by  fohn  Singleton  Copley^  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Rev.  E.  A.  Blake.,  D.D..,  Boston. 

MRS.  ADAM  BABCOCK  (Abigail  Smith)  58 

From  the  portrait  by  John  Singleton  Copley.,  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Rev.  E.  A.  Blake.,  D.D..,  Boston. 

ABRAHAM  REDWOOD  (1709-1788)  64 

From  a  painting  in  the  Redwood  Library^  Newport. 

MRS.  ABIGAIL  (HAZARD)  WATSON,  Daughter  of  Tho- 
mas and  Mary  (Bowdoin)  Hazard  72 
From  a  drawing  in  water-colours.,  formerly  belonging  to 


vi  Illustrations 

Mrs.  Wilkins  Updike.,  now  in  the  possession  of  her  grand- 
daughter., Miss  Elizabeth  Lyman  Randolph.,  Kingston., 
Rhode  Island. 

ABRAHAM  REDWOOD,  the  Younger  96 

Fr-om  the  portrait  by  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence.,  in  the  Red- 
wood Library.,  Neiuport. 

GEORGE  BERKELEY,  D.D.,  Dean  of  Derry,  afterwards 
Bishop  OF  Cloyne  156 

From  a  photograph.,  by  Emery  Walker.,  of  the  portrait  by 
Smibert  in  the  National  Portrait  Gallery.,  London. 

THE  BERKELEY  FAMILY  171 

(From  left  to  right  the  persons  represented  are  said  to  be: 
Mr.  Smibert,  Mr.  James, Mr.  Dalton,  Mrs.  Han- 
cock, Mr.  Moffat,  Mrs.  Berkeley,  a  Child  [Lucia 
Berkeley?],  Dean  Berkeley.)  Frojn  the  painting  by 
fohn  Smibert.,  in  the  possession  of  Tale  University.,  New 
Haven. 

REV.  ARTHUR  BROWNE  180 

From  the  piBure  by  fohn  Singleton  Copley.,  belonging  to 
the  General  Theological  Library.,  Boston. 

JOHN  INNES  CLARK  196 

From  the  portrait  painted  by  fohfi  Trumbull.,  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Colonel  DeLancey  Kane.,  Newport. 

DR.  WILLIAM  HUNTER  256 

Fro?}i  the  painting  by  Cosmo  Alexander.,  in  the  possession 
of  Mrs.  Thomas  R.  Hunter.,  Newport. 

WILLIAM  ELLERY,  Signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence FROM  Rhode  Island  266 
From  the  portrait  by  fohn  Trumbull.,  in  the  possession  of 
Mrs.  Thacher  Loring.,  Boston. 

MRS.  WILLIAM  HUNTER  (Deborah  Malbone)  and  her 
Daughter,  afterwards  Madame  de  Cadignan  278 

From  the  picture  by  Cosmo  Alexander.,  in  the  possession  of 
Mrs.  Thomas  R.  Hunter.,  Newport. 

MRS.  JOSHUA  BABCOCK  (Hannah  Stanton)  288 

From  the  painting  by  f.  Blackburn.,  belonging  to  Rev. 
S.  S.  Mathews,  D.D.,  Boston. 


Illustrations 


vu 


THOMAS  CRANSTON  300 

From  the  portrait  by  ^ohn  Singleton  Copley^  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Air.  Wilkins  U.  Hidden.,  of  Providence.  Formerly 
belonging  to  IVilkins  Updike. 

ELISHA  R.  POTTER  310 

From  a  painting  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  William  H.  Pot- 
ter., Kingston.,  Rhode  Island. 

PETER  HARRISON  326 

From  the  portrait  by  fohn  Stnibert.,  belonging  to  Mr.  Ship- 
ley Jones.,  New  York. 

MRS.  PETER  HARRISON  (Elizabeth  Pelham)  338 

Fro7n  the  portrait  by  fohn  Stnibert.,  belonging  to  Mr.  Ship- 
ley fones.,  New  York. 

EDWARD  GREENE  MALBONE  350 

From  the  portrait  by  Himself  .,  in  the  Corcoran  Gallery  of 
Art.,  Washington. 

HENRY  MARCHANT  424 

From  the  cabinet  piSlure  on  copper  by  John  Singleton  Cop- 
ley .,belonging  to  Mr.  Frank  E.  Mar  chant.,  of  West  Kings- 
ton., Rhode  Island. 

MRS.  HENRY  MARCHANT  (Rebecca  Cooke)  442 

From  the  cabinet  picture  on  copper  by  John  Singleton  Cop- 
ley., belonging  to  Mr.  Frank  E.  Marchant.,of  West  Kings- 
ton^ Rhode  Island. 

II.  VIEWS  AND  FACSIMILES 

THE  MacSPARRAN  MONUMENT  114 

Monument  to  the  Reverend  Jaines  MacSparran  and  the 
Reverend  Samuel  Fayerweather.,  ereSted  on  the  first  site 
of  St.  Paul's  Church.,  Narragansett.  From  a  photograph 
by  Mr.  Ernest  M.  Astle. 

THE  KING  RICHARD  GREENE  HOUSE  130 

Formerly  belonging  to  Mrs.  Mope  Ives.  Afterward  the  resi- 
dence of  the  late  Mr.  Moses  Brown  Ives  Goddard.  From 
a  photograph  by  Mr.  Ernest  M.  Astle. 


Vlll 


Illustrations 


PLAN  OF  KING'S  (ST.  JOHN'S)  CHURCH,  PROVIDENCE    214 
Made  by  "John  Chace^  previous  to  1792, 

OLD  ST.  PAUL'S   [THE  NARRAGANSETT  CHURCH]      458 
Wickford^  Rhode  Island^  a.d.  1907.  From  a  photograph 
by  Mr.  Ernest  M.  Astle. 


A  History  of  the 
Church  in  Narragansett 


t>4^e^«^^^«<(f^<^  t^^ 


,^^j^. 


'^Vr/^ffytfl^» 


^ 


A  History  of  the 
Church  in  Narragansett 

Chapter  XIII 

A.  D.    1760 

The  Arrival  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Fayerweather  in 
Narragansett.  Correspondence  between  the  Vener- 
able Society  and  the  Vestry  of  St.  Paul' s  Church. 
T)oBor  MacSparran  s  Disposition  of  his  Estate  and 
the  Purchase  of  his  Farm  for  a  Glebe.  The  Willet 
Family.  ^Matthew  Robinson.  Lodowick  Updike. 

"  T  N  consequence  of  the  Preceding  letters,"  con- 
X  tinues  the  Record,  "the  Venerable  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts 
Took  Compassion  on  us  and  sent  us  a  missionary 
To  be  a  Successor  To  the  Rev"  Doctor  Mac- 
Sparran, To  Break  the  Bread  of  Life  To  Our 
Souls.  And  Although  It  Was  Not  Mr.  Learn- 
ing,"^ Whom  We  Ask''  for,  Yet  it  Was  a  Person 
Equally  Known  to  Us,  Whom  We  had  Once  and 
Again  heard  Preach  In  Our  parish  church  of 
Saint  Paul's  —  Mr.  Samuel  Fayerweather,"^  A 
Native  of  the  Land  in  Which  We  Live,  Who 
had  been  Two  or  Three  Years  in  Wineyaw,  South 
Carolina, ministering  In  HolyThings  ;  But  Did 
Not  Enjoy  health  in  that  Unwholesome  Climate 
And  Petitioned  The  Venerable  Society  for  A 
Living  in  his  Own  Country  ;  Whom,  after  We 
had  heard  of  his  Appointment  To  Our  Mission, 


2  The  Narragansett  Church 

We  Wrote  a  very  Respe6lfull  and  handsome  Let- 
ter To  Invite  him  Among  Us,  Which  Miscar- 
ried. And  To  Whom  The  Society  in  England 
also  Wrote,  Whose  Packett  Was  for  a  long  Time 
Intercepted,  And  He  Not  Knowing  at  that  Junc- 
ture of  his  Appointment,  and  We  Not  hearing 
Kept  Us  Destitute  of  the  Stated  Exercises  of 
Publick  Worship  by  not  having  a  Fix'd  Pastor 
Amongst  Us  from  the  Death  of  Dr.  MacSpar- 
ran,  December  the  first,  1757,  To  The  Twenty 
Fourth  of  August,  1 760,  When  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Fayerweather*  Opened  his  Mission  to  Us  In 
the  Parish  Church  of  St.  Paul's  at  Which  time 
Mr.  Fayerweather  Laid  before  his  Congregation 
(which  was  then  small  and  inconsiderable)  Two 
Letters  From  The  Venerable  Society,  etc.  The 
One  To  Himself;  The  Other  to  the  Church  and 
Parish  To  Which  He  Came  to  be  The  Minis- 
ter In  The  Holy  Orders  of  The  Church  of 
England:  Are  as  Follows,  viz., — 

Charter-House^  yan.  29,  1760 

Reverend  Sir, 

I  AM  much  concerned  that  none  of  the  letters  I  have 
wrote,  concerning  the  Society's  appointment  of  you  to 
succeed  Dr.  MacSparran  in  the  church  of  Narraganset, 
have  come  to  your  hands,  particularly  that  dated  Sep- 

*  Mr.  Samuel  Fayerweather  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Fayerweather, 
of  Boston.  He  graduated  from  Harvard  College,  in  1743  ;  was  or- 
dained a  Congregational  minister,  and  was  settled  over  the  second 
Congregational  Church,  Newport,  in  1754.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Stiles  "' 
was  his  successor.  Mr,  Fayerweather  was  ordained  a  presbyter  in 
the  Episcopal  Church  in  1756,  in  England.  The  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts  was  conferred  on  him  by  the  University  of  Oxford,  in  the 
same  year.  A  fine  portrait  of  him,  painted  in  London,"^  by  Copley, 
now  hangs  in  my  house  at  Kingston. 


Chapter  Thirteenth  3 

tember  21, 1758, in  which  I  thankedyou  for  your  kind 
concern  for  me  on  the  report  of  my  death ;  but  that  you 
had  lost  another  very  valuable  friend,  Dodor  Bris- 
towe;"^  and  that  the  Society,  out  of  regard  to  your 
bad  state  of  health,  and  your  importunity  to  be  re- 
ceived into  their  service  in  one  of  the  Northern  col- 
onies, had  appointed  you  to  be  their  missionary  to  the 
Church  of  Narraganset  in  New  England,  with  a  salary 
of  fifty  pounds  per  annum,  from  the  quarter  day  pre- 
ceding the  first  Sunday  you  should  officiate  there,  as 
their  missionary; That  this  is  the  highest  salary  which, 
by  a  standing  rule,  the  Society  give  to  a  new  mission- 
ary. And  the  church  of  Narragansett  hath  provided 
what  they  call  a  good  house  and  glebe,  and  obliged 
themselves  bya  writing  to  ^2iy £10  sterling  perannum 
to  the  missionary  of  their  church.  And  in  that  letter  to 
you,  I  enclosed  a  letter  to  the  church  wardens  and 
vestrymen  in  your  recommendation;  and  a  copy  of 
both  these  was  sent  to  Carolina  and  New  England 
dire6led  to  you,  but  by  the  difi^erent  motions,  or  some 
other  accidents,  it  seems  neither  reached  you.  Your 
appointment  to  Narraganset  is  also  mentioned  in  the 
abstract  of  the  Society's  proceedings  in  the  anniver- 
sary sermons,  so  that  it  hath  been  sometime  well  known 
in  the  New  England,  And  I  hope  may  before  this  time, 
or  at  least  before  this  comes  to  your  hands,  have  come 
to  your  knowledge  likewise.  And  that  you  did,  or  will 
immediately  afterwards,  remove  to  Narraganset,  where, 
that  God  may  grant  his  blessing  to  your  spiritual  la- 
bours in  the  cause  of  Christ  and  his  true  religion,  to 
the  edification  of  the  good  people  committed  to  your 
pastoral  care,  and  the  eternal  salvation  of  you  all,  is  the 
hearty  prayer  of 

Your  aff^edionate  brother,  and  servant  in  Christ, 
Phillip  Bearcroft,  Secretary  "^ 

To  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fayervjeather^  In  South  Carolina  " 


4  The  Narragansett  Church 

Next  follows  a  copy  of  a  letter  to  the  Church 
Wardens  and  Vestry,  &c. 

Gentlemen: 

The  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  For- 
eign Parts  condole  with  you  on  the  death  of  Dr.Mac- 
Sparran,  and  to  supply  to  you  that  loss,  they  have  ap- 
pointed the  bearer,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fayerweather,  their 
missionary  to  you,  with  a  salary  of  fifty  pounds  per  an- 
num (the  highest  salary  given  by  their  rules  to  any  new 
missionary),  on  condition  that  you  provide  for  him  a 
good  house  and  glebe,  and  twenty  pounds  sterling  per 
annum,  as  you  promise  and  engage  in  your  petition. 
Mr.  Fayerweather  they  imagine  is  not  unknown  to 
you,  and  they  hope  will  be  very  acceptable  to  you,  not 
only  from  his  known  good  chara6ler  and  abilities,  but 
also  as  a  New  England  man.  That  God  may  grant 
his  blessing  on  all  his  spiritual  labours  among  you, and 
that  he  may  build  you  up  in  the  true  faith  of  Jesus 
Christ  to  your  eternal  salvation, is  the  hearty  prayer  of. 
Gentlemen, 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

Phillip  Bearcroft,  Secretary 

To  the  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  the  Episcopal  Churchy 
Narragansett  in  New-England 

Soon  after  Mr.  Fayerweather  arrived  at  his  Mis- 
sion in  Narragansett,  the  following  Letter  was 
written  and  sent  to  the  Venerable  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts, 
signed  by  the  Church  Wardens  in  the  name  and 
behalf  of  the  Vestry  and  congregation  that  usu- 
ally meet  together  for  the  worship  of  Almighty 
God  in  the  Church  of  Saint  Paul's,  Narragan- 
sett: 


chapter  Thirteenth  5 

[to  the  secretary,  dr.  bearcroft,  etc.] 

Narrogansett,  August  30,  1760 

Reverend  Sir, 

The  honour  we  owe  to  the  Venerable  Society  for  Pro- 
pagating the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  as  a  church  under 
their  especial  care,  and  their  great  goodness  in  provid- 
ing us  worthy  pastors  from  time  to  time,  we  can  better 
admire  than  express.  And,  in  our  late  destitute  state, 
while  we  were  bemoaning  the  loss  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
MacSparran,  whose  light  we  rejoiced  in  many  years, 
no  sooner  was  our  grief  known  on  this  melancholy 
occasion,  but  a  successor  was  appointed  much  to  our 
satisfaction;  and  the  more  so,  as  he  was  a  native  of  the 
land  in  which  we  live,  the  amiableness  of  whose  views 
are  visible  and  clear  from  his  resigning  a  superior  bene- 
fice in  another  part  of  the  continent  to  ours ;  whom  we 
trust  we  have  comfort  in,  and  whose  ministry,  consid- 
ering his  valuable  gifts  and  accomplishments,  will  be 
highly  acceptable  and  pleasing  to  us. 

With  double  joy  we  received  Mr.  Fayerweather  on 
his  arrival  among  us,  being  afraid  something  or  other 
had  happened  to  disappoint  our  sanguine  hopes —  he 
not  arriving  for  above  a  twelvemonth  after  the  news 
of  his  appointment  reached  our  ears,  by  reason  of  a 
detention  of  the  Society's  letters  to  him.  Mr.  Fayer- 
weather opened  his  mission  on  the  24th  of  August, 
1760,  the  advantage  of  whose  instructions  and  exem- 
plary life  we  unitedly  wish  for  a  long  series  of  time  to 
enjoy;  humbly  depending  on  God,  the  Author  and 
Sovereign  Disposer  of  all  things,  for  His  blessing,  from 
whom  proceeds  every  good  and  perfe6l  gift.  In  com- 
pliance with  the  Venerable  Society's  instructions  and 
our  promise,  we  have  made  the  most  ample  provision 
for  his  settlement  and  support.  And  that  we  might  ren- 
der the  living  of  Saint  Paul's  worthy  of  the  acceptance 
of  gentlemen  of  character  and  reputation,  whenever,  by 
the  Providence  of  God,  it  becomes  vacant,  we  shall  do 


6  The  Narragansett  Church 

everything  further  that  is  required  of,  or  may  be  ex- 
pelled from,  us. 

I  ntreating  the  Venerable  Society  to  accept  this  Duti- 
ful Address,  and  thanking  that  honourable  and  august 
Board  in  a  proper  and  becoming  manner  for  all  fa- 
vours, and  particularly  this  last  instance  of  their  es- 
teem and  notice  in  relation  to  a  spiritual  watchman, 
who  is  to  watch  for  souls,  as  one  that  must  give  an 
account,  we  beg  leave  with  the  greatest  deference,  duty, 
and  regard,  to  subscribe  ourselves. 

Your  most  obedient,  devoted  humble  servants, 

John  Case  5^° 
John  Gardiner  "* 

Wardens 

On  Sunday,  the  24th  of  August,  1760,  Mr. 
Fayerweather,  for  the  first  time,  officiated  for  his 
new  flock,  which  had  become  greatly  reduced 
in  numbers,  the  Church  having  been  so  long 
closed. 

Do6lor  MacSparran,  in  his  will,  devised  his 
farms  for  the  use  and  support  of  a  Right  Rev- 
erend Diocesan,^'*"  if  one  should  be  sent  over  to 
America  whose  jurisdiction  should  include  the 
Narragansett  country,  provided  he  came  within 
the  term  of  seven  years  after  the  death  of  his 
wife.  And  if  no  such  bishop  arrived  within  that 
period,  then  he  devised  the  same  estate,^^'  one- 
half  to  his  nephew  James  MacSparran,  the  son 
of  his  brother  Archibald,^'^"  who  had  emigrated 
from  the  North  of  Ireland,  and  settled  at  the 
Forks  of  the  Delaware,  and  subsequently  had  de- 
ceased, and  the  other  half  to  Dr.  Sylvester  Gar- 
diner,"^ of  Boston,  the  brother-in-law  of  Dr. 
MacSparran. 


c>^^^  Cf^^^tyf^-e^f^  ,_:5^^^^>'%r/e««^%i^ 


^?^CeY</ 


Chapter  Thirteenth  7 

At  this  juncture,  Mr.  James  MacSparran,  the 
late  Dodor's  nephew  and  devisee,  arrived  in 
Narragansett,  from  White  Clay  Creek  in  Penn- 
sylvania [nov^  Delaware],  and  the  spirited  gen- 
tlemen of  the  parish  purchased  his  half  for  the 
sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  sterling. 
After  some  length  of  time  the  other  half  of  said 
farm  was  purchased  of  Dr.  Sylvester  Gardiner, 
of  Boston,  for  a  glebe  for  the  perpetual  benefit  of 
the  ministers  of  St.  Paul's  Church  forever,  for 
another  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  sterling. 
"Immediately  upon  which,"  continues  the  Re- 
cord, "Dr.  Gardiner,  to  his  Honour  be  it  here 
Recorded,  Gave  out  of  his  Respective  part,  or 
Sum  of  One  hundred  and  fifty  Pounds  Sterling, 
one  hundred  dollars,  to  help  forward  the  whole 
Purchase,  or  rather  to  Ease  or  Lessen  the  expense 
and  Cost  thereof  to  the  Parish  of  St.  Pauls.^'*^  .  . 

"The  Principal  Purchasers  of  the  first  half 
of  the  afore-mentioned  Farm  were  John  Case,^'° 
Esq.,  Francis  Willet,  Esq.,  Thomas  Brown,^^'* 
Esq.,  Captain  John  Brown,^'*^  Esq.,  of  Newport, 
and  Matthew  Robinson,''*^  Esq.;  and  in  Con- 
junction with  these,  Lodowick  Updike"^  and 
Colonel  Thomas  Hazard,'*^^  Esqs.  Gave  each  of 
them  Twenty  Dollars  a  Piece.  .  .  . 

"As  to  the  Last  half  of  the  Purchase  of  the 
Farm  as  a  Glebe  Perpetual,  the  Three  first  men- 
tioned. Case,  Willet,  and  Thomas  Brown,  Esqs., 
Each  of  them  Gave  most  Liberally  and  Gener- 
ously; and  their  Names  are  again  Repeated  to 
their  honour,  for  they  Signalized  themselves  as 
to  both  the  Distinct  Purchases  of  said  Farm; 


8  The  Narragansett  Church 

and  that,  in  the  whole,  their  Particular  Dona- 
tions did  not  amount  to  Less  than  Two  hun- 
dred and  Thirty  Dollars  A  Man.  Since  which 
Regular  Deeds  have  been  made  of  said  Farm 
as  a  Glebe  or  parsonage  for  the  advantage  and 
Behoovement  of  the  Present  and  all  Succeed- 
ing Ministers  of  St.  Pauls  Church  in  Narra- 
gansett, Time  Immemorial."* 

President  Stiles,"''  in  his  History  of  the  Three 
y«<3^fj-,^'*^  speaking  of  Mr.  Willet,  says: 

"Colonel  Francis  Willet,  of  North  Kingstown, 
Rhode  Island,  died  and  was  buried  in  the  family 
burying  place  on  his  own  estate,  one  mile  north  of 
Narragansett  Ferry,  February  [06lober?]  6,  1776, 
aged  eighty-three.  He  was  descended  from  Thomas 
Willet,  the  first  mayor  of  New  York,  who  died  in 
Barrington,  Rhode  Island,  1674,  aged  sixty-four. 
Thomas  Willet  came  a  young  merchant  to  Plymouth, 
1629  [1632?],  was  conversant  in  the  fur  and  Indian 
trade  of  the  whole  coast  from  the  Kennebec  to  Hud- 
son's River,  became  very  opulent,  and  settled  on  a 
plantation  at  Swanzey,now  Barrington,  where  remains 
his  grave  six  miles  below  Providence.  Being  an  in- 
telligent and  respeftable  person,  he  went  as  a  coun- 
sellor on  board  of  Colonel  Nichols's  fleet,at  the  reduc- 
tion of  Manhados  [or  Manhatoes],  1664,  and  was 
by  him  appointed  Mayor  of  the  new  conquered  city. 
He  owned  houses  in  New  York  and  Albany.  The 
Dutch  resuming  the  government,  he  afterwards  re- 
turned to  his  settlement,  and  died  in  Barrington.  On 
the  stones  at  his  grave  there  is  this  inscription : 

*The  Church  of  St.  Paul  having,  in  1800,  been  removed  from 
the  site  where  it  formerly  stood  to  Wickford,  the  glebe  ceased  to 
be  convenient  as  the  residence  of  the  rcftor ;  and  having  become 
dilapidated  and  injured  by  continued  tenantry,  was  sold  by  the 
corporation  in  1842,  and  the  proceeds  more  profitably  invested. 


Chapter  Thirteenth 


{Head  Stone) 

1674. 

HERE  LYETH  THE  BODY 

OF  THE  WORTHY 

THOMAS  WILLET,  ESQ_., 

WHO  DIED  AUGUST  4TH,  IN 

THE  64TH  YEAR  OF  HIS  AGE, 

ANNO 


[Foot  Stone) 

WHO  WAS  THE  FIRST 

MAYOR  OF  NEW  YORK, 

AND  TWICE  DID 

SUSTAIN  THAT 

PLACE. 


"He  had  three  sons,^'*^  Hezekiah,  James,  and  An- 
drew, by  his  wife  Mary,  the  daughter  of  John  Brown, 
Esq.  Hezekiah  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  1675. 
James  lived  on  the  paternal  estate.  Andrew  was  first 
a  merchant  in  Boston  till  1680;  he  then  removed  and 
settled  on  Boston  Neck,  at  Narragansett  Ferry;  and 
died  there  in  17 12,  aged  fifty-six,  leaving  two  sons, 
Francis  and  Thomas,  and  a  daughter.^'*^  Thomas  died 
a  bachelor,  and  left  the  whole  family  estate  to  the  pos- 
session of  Colonel  Francis  Willet,  who  married  and 
died  without  issue.  This  is  the  gentleman  with  whom 
I  was  intimately  acquainted.  He  was  educated  a  mer- 
chant, but  did  not  pursue  commerce.  He  had  a  good 
genius,  and  was  a  man  of  much  reading  and  informa- 
tion; and  settling  himself  on  his  paternal  estate,  being 
very  opulent,  he  lived  the  life  of  a  private  gentleman. 
He  was  hospitable  and  generous,  of  excellent  morals, 
and  a  very  estimable  and  highly  respefted  charader. 
The  fine  trad:  of  Boston  Neck ^^°  was  owned  by  the 
Sewalls,^^  and  other  gentlemen  of  Boston.  This,  with 
his  father's  former  residence  in  Boston,  and  transact- 
ing business  for  these  Boston  land-owners,  and  for 
Harvard  College,  brought  him  into  an  acquaintance 
with  the  first  chara6lers  of  Boston,  who  often  visited 
him  through  life,  and  gave  him  great  public  informa- 
tion. Once  a  year  these  gentlemen  visited  their  estates, 
and  at  his  father's  house;  and  after  his  father's  death, 
in  I7i2,themanagement  and  superintendence  of  these 
estates,  and  of  the  college  estate,  together  with  the  ex- 
tensive Willet  family  acquaintance,  fell  unto  Colonel 


10  The  Narragansett  Church 

Francis  Willet,  whose  aunts  had  married  into  ministers' 
families — Wilson"°in  Massachusetts, and  Hooker^^' 
in  Conne6licut.  The  Willet  farm  was  a  trad:  extending 
from  Narragansett  Ferry  northward — perhaps  one 
mile  and  a  half  in  length  on  the  bay,  and  about  one 
mile  or  more  east  and  west  from  the  bay,  across  to  an 
oblong  pond  called  Pettaquamscutt,  and  was  the  ori- 
ginal seat  of  the  great  sachem,  Miantenomi.  At  the 
north  end  of  this  pond,  and  on  the  Willet  farm, 
the  celebrated  Colonel  Whalley,  styled  one  of  King 
Charles's  regicide  judges,  resided;  and  before  his  death 
removed  to  West  Greenwich  and  died  there." 

The  following  memoranda  were  taken  from  an  old 
memorandum  book"^  of  Judge  John  Saffin,  son-in- 
law  of  the  first  Thomas  Willet,  which  is  now  [i  847]  in 
possession  of  Willet  Carpenter,  Esq.,  who  owns  and 
lives  on  the  family  estate  on  Boston  Neck,  Rhode 
Island: 

"Captain  Thomas  Willet  married  Mary  Brown, 
July  6,  1636.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  Brown. "^ 
Their  children  were:  Mary,"'  born  in  Plymouth, 
November  10, 1637;  Martha, born  in  Plymouth,  Au- 
gust 6,  1639;  John,  born  in  Plymouth,  August  21, 
1 641;  Sarah,""*  born  in  Plymouth,  May  4,  1643;  Re- 
becca, born  in  Plymouth,  December  2, 1 644 ;  Thomas, 
born  in  Plymouth,  Odober  i,  164.6;  Esther,  born 
July  10,  1648;  James,  born  in  Plymouth,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1649;  Hezekiah,  born  in  Plymouth,  Novem- 
ber 17,  1 651;  David,  born  November  i,  1654;  An- 
drew, born  in  Plymouth,  Odober  5,  1655;  Samuel, 
born  in  Plymouth,  Odober  27,  1658. 

"  Mrs.  Mary  Willet  died  January  8,  1 669,  and  was 
buried  near  her  father,  John  Brown,  upon  a  little  hill 
upon  their  land  in  Swansea.  Captain  Thomas  Willet 
died  August  4,  1674,  and  was  buried  in  the  same 
place. "5  Captain  Andrew  Willet  died  April  6,  171 2, 
in  his  fifty-seventh  year. 


chapter  Thirteenth  n 

"John  Saffin  55^ married  Martha  Willet,  December  3 , 
1658.  She  died  of  the  small-pox,  December  1 1,  1678. 
Their  children  were:  John,  born  1659,  died  1661; 
John,  1661,  died  1678  ;  Thomas,  1663  ;  Simon,  1666, 
died  1678;  Josiah,  1667;  Joseph,  1669,  died  1676; 
Benjamin,  1 672,  died  1672;  Joseph,  1 676.  Josiah  and 
Joseph  second  died  before  their  father.  All  these  chil- 
dren were  born  in  Boston.  John  Saffin  was  the  eldest  son 
of  Simon  Saffin,  of  Exeter,  in  England,  merchant,  and 
Grace,  his  wife,  who  was  the  only  daughter  of  John 
Garrett,  sometime  of  Barnstable  in  Devonshire.  He 
joined  the  First  Church  in  Boston, in  1665.  In  1687-8, 
he  removed  from  Boston  to  Bristol,  Rhode  Island. 
He  married  in  1680,  for  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Lidgett;  and  in  1688,  for  his  third  wife,  Re- 
becca,"^ daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  Lee,  of  Bristol. 
Judge  Saffin  was  Speaker  of  the  Assembly  of  Massa- 
chusetts in  1686.  He  died  at  Bristol,  July  29,  17 10." 

Captain  Thomas  Willet  made  his  will  in  Swansea, 
in  1 67 1.  It  was  proved  August  12,  1674,  and  is  re- 
corded in  Plymouth  Records  (iii.  1 14).  He  gave  his 
Plymouth,  Swansea,  and  Rehoboth  lands  to  his  sons 
James,  Hezekiah,  Andrew,  and  Samuel;  his  Narra- 
gansett  lands  to  his  grandchildren,  viz.,  to  Thomas, 
son  of  Martha  Saffin,  a  double  portion;  to  the  sons 
of  his  daughter,  Mary  Hooker,  a  share  each;  and  to 
his  daughter  Esther,  or  any  children  she  may  have, 
a  share  each.  He  calls  James  his  eldest  son. 

Esther  Willet  afterwards  married  Josiah  Flint,"^ 
and  her  daughter,Dorothy, married  Edmund  Quincy. 

Captain  Andrew  Willet  was  at  first  a  trader  in  Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts,  but  afterwards  lived  on  the  family 
estate  on  Boston  Neck,  In  Rhode  Island, and  is  buried 
there.  He  sold  off  to  Rowland  Robinson^'''*  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  the  south  part  of  the  estate — one  hun- 
dred and  ten  rods  and  six  feet  wide.*  He  gave  the 
"'Land  Evidences,  ii.  122,  Secretary's  office. 


12  The  Narragansett  Church 

Boston  Neck  farm  to  his  sons,  Colonel  Francis  and 
Thomas.  Thomas,  son  of  Andrew,  died  in  1725,  aged 
twenty-nine,  and  by  will  gave  his  interest  in  the  farm 
to  his  brother  Francis,  and  the  heirs  of  his  body;  and 
if  he  died  without  issue,  then  to  Willet,  son  of  his 
sister  Mary  Carpenter,  and  William,  son  of  his  sister 
Martha  Pease.  Colonel  Francis  Willet  married  Mary 
Taylor."^  He  died  February  6,  1776,  aged  eighty- 
three,  without  issue.  By  his  will  he  gave  the  whole 
of  the  Boston  Neck  estate  to  Francis  Carpenter,  his 
nephew.5^° 

Joseph  Carpenter,  of  Jericho,  Oyster  Bay,  Long  Is- 
land, married,  first,  Ann,  1707;  and  second,  Mary, 
1 7 10,  both  daughters  of  Captain  Andrew  Willet. 
Francis,  fifth  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Carpenter,  in- 
herited and  held  the  estate  under  his  uncle's  will,  after 
several  lawsuits  in  the  Circuit  Court  relating  to  it, 
about  1790-3.  Francis  married  Esther  HelmCj^^and 
their  children  were:  (i)  Esther,  living.  (2)  Willet. 
(3)  James.  (4)  Francis.  (5)  Mary, married  Samuel  Gar- 
diner. (6)  Abigail,  living.  (7)  Sarah.  Willet  Carpen- 
ter, Esq.,  last  named  (son  of  Francis),  now  [1847] 
lives  on  and  occupies  the  Willet  estate.  He  married 
Elizabeth,  the  sister  of  Dr.  Benjamin  W.  Case.  The 
Rev.  James  H.  Carpenter,5^'of  the  Episcopal  Church 
of  the  Ascension,  Wakefield;  Powell  H.  Carpenter,of 
Providence;  and  Benjamin  Carpenter,  are  their  chil- 
dren now  living. 

Mary,  daughter  of  Captain  Thomas  Willet,  mar- 
ried Samuel  Hooker,"'  of  Farmington,  Connecticut. 
Hezekiah,son  of  Captain  Willet,  married  Ann,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Brown,  2d,of  Rehoboth,  January  7,  1676; 
and  was  killed  July  i,  1676,  in  Philip's  war.  James,^'*^ 
son  of  Captain  Willet,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Lieutenant  Peter  Hunt,  of  Rehoboth,  April  17, 
1673,  ^^^  Grace  Frink,  June,  1677. 

It  would  seem  that  Captain  Willet  had  another  son, 


Chapter  Thirteenth  13 

Hezekiah,^'*^  (who  died  an  infant,)  not  named  in  Judge 
Saffin's  account. 

For  very  imperfedt  accounts  of  Captain  Willet's 
family,  see  Baylies's  Plymouth,  Daggett's  Attlehorough, 
Bliss's  Rehoboth,  and  Thomson's  Long  Island.  The  ac- 
count which  we  have  quoted  from  Dr.  Stiles  was  given 
to  him  by  Colonel  Francis  Willet,  a  grandson  of  Cap- 
tain Thomas  Willet;  and  the  memoranda  of  Judge 
Saffin,  Captain  Willet's  son-in-law,  have  the  appear- 
ance of  being  very  accurate.  The  wills  of  several  of 
the  family  are  recorded  at  Wickford,  Rhode  Island. 
Samuel,5^^a  son  of  Captain  Thomas  Willet,  was  Sher- 
iff of  Queen's  County,  Long  Island.  His  son  Ed- 
ward was  born  in  1701,  had  thirteen  children  and  died 
at  the  age  of  ninety-three.  Colonel  Marinus  Willet,^^^ 
Mayor  of  New  York,  was  a  son  of  Edward,  and  was 
born  at  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  July  31,  1740,  O.  S., 
and  died  August  23,  1830. 

There  have  been  others  of  the  name  of  Willet  in 
Dorchester  and  Newbury,  Massachusetts  (see  Dag- 
gett's Attlehorough,  and  the  History  of  Newbury). 

Matthew  Robinson  was  the  only  son  of  Robert 
Robinson,  Searcher  of  the  Customs  in  Newport,  who 
sustained  many  honourable  posts  under  the  reigns  of 
Queen  Anne,  George  I.  and  George  II.  He  died  in 
January,  1761,  aged  eighty-three.  Matthew  was  born 
in  Newport,  in  1709.  He  studied  law  in  Boston,  and 
opened  an  office  in  Newport  about  the  year  1735. 
Odiober  4,  1741,  he  married  Barsheba  Johnston,  the 
mother  of  Augustus  Johnston,^^'"*^"  afterwards  Attor- 
ney-General of  the  colony.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Mr.  Lucas,^^  a  French  Huguenot,  who  had  fled  to 
this  country  on  the  revocation  of  the  Edid:  of  Nantes. 
Mr.  Robinson  pra6lised  law  at  Newport  with  reputa- 
tion, and  travelled  the  circuits  of  the  State.  He  re- 
moved to  Narragansett  in  1 750,  and  purchased  a  large 


14         The  Narragansett  Church 

estate. Thehousewhichheeredted is  still  [1847]  stand- 
ing in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  about  half  a  mile 
south  of  the  Kingston  depot.  He  named  his  residence 
Hopewell i'^'^  His  wife  died  soon  after  his  removal  to 
Narragansett. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  a  well-read  and  learned  man, 
and  deeply  and  critically  so  in  the  old  and  intricate 
do6lrine  of  estates.  Coke  upon  Littleton  was  his  favour- 
ite study.  He  had  a  large  and  well-sele6led  library 
in  law,  history,  and  poetry,  probably  the  largest  of 
any  individual  in  the.  colony,  at  that  time.  His  col- 
le6tion  of  pamphlets,  magazines  and  other  produc- 
tions of  the  times,  was  valuable  for  antiquarian  re- 
search and  was  preserved  with  great  care.  He  was 
a  zealous  antiquarian,  and  prided  himself  on  his  cri- 
tical knowledge  of  English  and  American  history. 
But  these  colle6lions  were  sold  at  au6lion  after  his 
death,  and  are  now  nearly  all  lost.^^^  He  was  a  dili- 
gent student.  His  information  was  extensive,  but  was 
derived  chiefly  from  books,  his  knowledge  of  human 
nature  being  very  imperfect.  Mr.  Robinson  enjoyed 
a  large  share  of  practice,  and  was  generally  engaged 
in  all  the  great  causes  that  occurred.  He  was  opposed 
to  the  Revolution  in  principle,  though  neutral  in 
adion;  he  abhorred  an  alliance  with  our  old  enemy, 
the  French;  he  dreaded  lest  a  steady  government 
should  be  succeeded  by  anarchy;  but,  after  the  Revo- 
lution, he  became  deeply  attached  to  American  insti- 
tutions and  was  a  warm  friend  of  the  Constitution. 
His  house  was  the  seat  of  hospitality,  and  the  well- 
informed  and  learned  were  always  welcome  guests. 
In  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  he  unfortunately  became 
surety  for  Mr.  Johnston,  his  step-son,  and  he  dying 
insolvent,  it  greatly  embarrassed  Mr.  Robinson  in 
his  pecuniary  afl^airs,  and  perplexed  his  latter  days. 
He  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  officers  of  the 
Church,  devoutly  attached  to  its  services,  a  regular 


chapter  Thirteenth  15 

attendant,  and  contributed  liberally  to  its  support. 

He  died  at  South  Kingstown,  in  Odlober,  1795,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six,  without  issue.  He  was 
interred  on  his  farm.  A  large  concourse  of  people  at- 
tended his  funeral,  in  testimony  of  their  resped;  for 
his  talents  and  character;  but  it  is  lamentable  to  re~ 
fle(5t  that  there  is  no  monument  eredled  at  the  grave 
of  this  learned,  worthy,  and  Christian  man.^^^ 

Lodowick  Updike,5^='  the  only  son  of  Daniel  Up- 
dike,''''^ the  Colony  Attorney,  was  born  July  12,  1 72,5. 
He  was  educated  under  private  tutors,  in  conformity 
with  the  pradice  of  that  age.  The  pupils  lived  in  the 
family  and  were  the  companions  of  their  instructors ; 
and  such  were  seleded  by  parents  as  were  the  most 
skilful  in  imparting  literature  and  science,  and  best 
calculated  to  mould  the  character  and  polish  the  man- 
ners of  youth.  His  last  instrudtor  was  the  Rev.  John 
Checkley,^°^  Redor  of  the  Church  in  Providence,  an 
Oxford  scholar  and  learned  divine.  Mr.  Updike,  in 
after  life,  was  accustomed  to  relate  amusing  anecdotes 
of  this  distinguished  man.  Mr.  Updike  studied  for  the 
bar,  but  never  pradised.  He  inherited  the  large  estate 
of  his  father,  in  North  Kingstown,  and  resided  on  it, 
as  an  intelligent  and  gentleman  farmer,until  his  death, 
June  6,  1804. 

From  the  sermon  preached  on  his  death,  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Warren,^'^''  Redor  of  St.  Paul's,  Wickford, 
the  following  passages  are  extraded: 

"To  strong  intelledual  powers  he  added  an  im- 
proved taste  and  great  acquirements.  His  qualifica- 
tions were  such  as  fitted  him  to  shine  either  at  the 
bar,  in  the  senate,  or  in  the  field.  But  he  preferred  the 
shade  of  private  life  to  the  din  of  war,  the  tumult  of 
popular  assemblies,  or  the  chicane  of  law.  In  a  word, 
the  name  of  honest  man,  and  peace  of  conscience,  he 
preferred  to  the  most  pompous  of  worldly  distinc- 
tions. His  hospitality  was  conspicuous.  His  door  was 


i6  The  Narragansett  Church 

ever  open  to  the  wayworn  traveller,  as  well  as  the 
more  wealthy  and  splendid  guest;  and  all  ages  and 
conditions  were  pleased  and  enlivened  with  his  cheer- 
ful, learned,  and  refined  conversation.  His  resigna- 
tion and  fortitude  in  the  most  trying  season,  at  the 
hour  of  death,  were  manifest.  He  conversed  about 
his  approaching  dissolution  with  that  composure  which 
is  displayed  by  the  best  Christians  only,  and  nothing 
but  a  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality  could  inspire.  He 
set  his  house  in  order,  and  arranged  his  temporal  af- 
fairs with  a  deliberation  and  coolness  seldom  discov- 
ered by  men  in  general,  even  in  time  of  perfect  health. 
He  always  paid  resped:  to  religious  institutions.  As 
long  as  his  health  permitted,  he  was  a  constant  attend- 
ant on  divine  worship  in  this  house  of  prayer,  and  to 
his  zeal, under  Divine  Providence, we  are  indebted  for 
the  eredion  of  a  church  in  this  place." 

An  obituary  notice  in  the  Providence  Gazette^  com- 
municated by  the  late  William  Goddard,^"'^^^  says: 

"On  Friday,  the  8th  instant  [June],  the  remains 
of  Lodowick  Updike,  Esq.,  who  died  at  his  seat  at 
North  Kingstown,  the  preceding  Wednesday  (in  the 
eightieth  year  of  his  age),  were  entombed  among  his 
venerable  ancestors,""  with  those  marks  of  respedt  due 
to  his  exalted  merit." 

Lodowick  Updike  married  Abigail, ^'^  daughter  of 
JohnGardiner,granddaughterof  William  Gardiner, of 
Boston  Neck,^°^'^°'  and  niece  of  Mrs.  MacSparran  and 
Dr.  Sylvester  Gardiner,""^  of  Boston.  She  survived  her 
husband  several  years,  and  died  at  North  Kingstown."' 
They  left  eleven  children,"^  viz.:  Daniel,  James,  Anstis, 
Mary,  Abigail,  Sarah,  Lydia,  Lodowick,  Alfred,  Gil- 
bert, and  Wilkins. 


Chapter  XIV 

A.D.    I761    to  A.D.   1765 

'Judge  Carder  Hazard.  Martin  Reed.  Daniel  Up- 
dike^ of  East  Greenwich.  Governor  Bernard.  'The 
Rev.  Peter  Bours.  The  Rev.  Joshua  Wingate  Weeks. 
The  Wanton  Family.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Winthrop 
Coit,  D.D. 

THE  regular  services  of  the  Church  had  been 
so  long  suspended,  and  the  great  number 
of  communicants  that  had  surrounded  the  com- 
munion table  in  the  days  of  Dr.  MacSparran  had 
been  so  reduced  by  deaths,  removals,  and  other- 
wise, that  when  the  Sacrament  was  first  admin- 
istered by  Mr.  Fayerweather,  only  twelve  at- 
tended ;  and  he  observes  that  he  preached  on  the 
5th  06lober,  1762,  to  one  hundred,  which  was 
the  largest  congregation  that  had  assembled  at 
church  since  he  had  opened  his  mission. 

"March  the  5""'  1761.  Mr.  Fayerweather 
Married  Mr.  Carder  Hazard"^  to  Miss  Allice 
Hazard,  Daughter  of  Colonel  Thomas  Hazard,''^^ 
Esq.,  of  South  Kingstown  at  Mr.  Benjamin 
Mumford's  house  Where  he  then  Boarded." 

"June  14"'  1 76 1.  Mr.  Fayerweather  Preached 
to  a  large  Assembly  in  St.  Paul's  Narraganset 
and  Baptized  Martin  Reed,  the  Parish  Clerk,  an 
Adult,  and  According  to  the  Usual  Method  Of 
the  Christian  Church,  his  Chosen  Witnesses 
were  Major  Ebenezer  Brenton,'*"'  and  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin Mumford.'"'' 


i8  The  Narragansett  Church 

Martin  Reed  was  a  remarkable  man.  By  God's  bless- 
ing on  his  talents  and  labours,  he  was  eminently  suc- 
cessful. He  was  the  son  of  Robert  Reed,  the  com- 
mander of  a  merchant  ship,  who  was  accidentally  killed 
when  entering  the  port  of  Newport,  leaving  all  his 
effedls  in  England  undefined  and  unattainable.  The 
widowed  mother  had  but  time  only  to  bind  out  her 
fatherless  Martin,  then  seven  years  old,  to  a  diaper 
weaver,  before  she  died,  leaving  him  to  the  mercies 
of  the  world.  He  served  an  apprenticeship  of  fourteen 
years,  enjoying  the  benefits  of  one  quarter's  schooling. 
But  such  was  the  adtivity  of  his  mental  powers  and 
his  perseverance,  that  he  attained,  when  others  slept, 
an  education  ample  for  all  the  business  and  enterprise 
of  life,  before  he  was  twenty-one.  During  his  apprentice- 
ship, hediscovered  afixed determination  to  distinguish 
himself  as  a  manufafturer.  He  therefore  consulted  all 
books  on  the  subjed:  of  manufactures  which  came  within 
his  reach — and  these  were  few  indeed — and  was  contin- 
ually engaged  in  drawing  draughts  and  plans  of  machin- 
ery for  future  use.  At  the  expiration  of  his  apprentice- 
ship, he  married  a  poor  butmostamiableand  pious  wo- 
man, Mary  Dixon,  daughter  of  an  Irishman,  named 
Thomas  Dixon,  also  a  diaper  weaver.  With  a  single 
loom  and  the  plainest  furniture,  he  began  life,  and  ad- 
vanced with  such  surprising  success,  that  he  became 
in  a  few  vears  the  manufacturer  for  all  the  principal 
families  "'^  in  the  surrounding  counties,  who  then  de- 
pended almost  wholly  on  home  materials  for  clothing 
and  other  purposes. 

Early  in  life  he  saw  and  felt  the  importance  of  our 
holy  religion  and  attached  himself  to  the  Episcopal 
Church  under  the  reftorship  of  Mr.  Fayerweather. 
With  his  charad:erlstic  ardour  for  knowledge,  and  with 
a  determination  to  know  what  he  professed,  he  studied 
the  government,  ministry,  and  worship  of  the  Church, 
and  with  intelligence  and  zeal  embraced  it  as  the  true 


chapter  Fourteenth  19 

Church  of  Christ.  Favoured  with  the  ample  theolo- 
gical library  of  his  pastor,  and  the  publications  of  the 
Venerable  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel, 
it  is  believed  that  few  men  of  his  day  better  understood 
the  history,  government,  and  worship  of  the  English 
Church,  the  story  of  the  blessed  Reformation,  and  the 
troubles  of  sedts  which  afterwards  arose.  This  zeal  for 
the  Church  led  him  to  labour  incessantly  for  the  success 
of  the  parish.  He  was  always  [a  member]  of  the  vestry, 
and,  living  near  the  church,^^^  ^g  constantly  had  the 
charge  of  the  edifice.  Having  a  taste  for  music,  he  at 
all  times  led  the  singing.  During  the  troubles  of  the 
Revolution,  and  for  years  after,  while  the  parish  had 
no  reftor,  Mr.  Reed  read  the  morning  service  in  the 
Church,  and  the  service  at  funerals. 

As  was  natural  for  such  a  mind,  he  was  fond  of  com- 
municating his  extensive  knowledge  of  religion  and 
the  Church  to  his  family  and  especially  to  his  youngest 
son.  This  son,  who  early  discovered  a  love  for  the  ac- 
quisition of  knowledge,  is  now  the  highly  talented, 
esteemed,  and  successful  Re6tor  of  Christ  Church,  in 
the  village  of  Poughkeepsie,  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  he  has  been  heard  to  say,  that  he  learned  more 
from  the  lips  of  his  father,  in  early  life,  of  the  English 
Church,  of  the  Reformation,  and  of  Puritanic  wildness, 
error, and  schism,  than  from  the  many  volumes  he  has 
since  read.  Gladly  did  Martin  Reed  hail  the  day,  when 
Dr.  William  Smith  "^  (afterwards  Reftor  of  Trinity 
Church,  Newport,  and  President  of  the  Episcopal  Sem- 
inary at  Cheshire,  Connedlicut)  was  settled  as  the  Rec- 
tor of  St.  Paul 's,  Narragansett.  H  e  really  feasted  on  the 
great  learning  and  true  Churchmanship  of  that  divine, 
always  walking,  after  service  on  Sunday,  to  converse 
with  him.  Dr.  Smith  was  a  skilled  enthusiast  in  music, 
and  it  is  believed  that  in  the  Church  at  Narragansett, 
the  Venik  was  first  chanted  in  America."^  Indeed,  so 
well  known  and  so  venerated  was  the  character  of  old 


20         The  Narragansett  Church 

Mr.  Reed,  that  when  Dr.  Smith  was  about  to  leave, 
an  individual  despairingly  remarked  to  Bishop  Sea- 
bury,"!  am  afraid  ourChurch  will  die."  He  answered: 
"  It  may  be  chastised,  but  while  you  have  for  wardens 
such  men  as  Colonel  Updike,^''^  and  Martin  Reed  for 
clerk,  it  will  never  die." 

Many  anecdotes  are  told  of  the  venerable  Reed. He 
nevermore  than  once  inflidled  corporal  punishment  on 
his  children,  and  that  was  on  a  Monday  morning.  After 
an  impressive  le6ture,  he  used  the  rod  on  his  four  sons 
for  playing  ball  the  day  before.  His  government  of  his 
journeymen  and  apprentices  when  at  theirdaily  labour 
was  novel.  To  procure  silence  and  attention  to  busi- 
ness, he  almost  constantly  employed  his  astonishing 
musical  powers  in  singing  a  great  number  of  chaste 
Irish  songs,  or  uttering  their  airs  by  a  melodious 
whistle,  to  which  the  workmen  became  so  accustomed 
that  it  became  to  them  a  relief  in  their  toils.  Of  his 
moral  courage  it  is  told,  that  when  the  great  and  pre- 
sumptuous impostor,  Jemima  Wilkinson,'*'*^  who  had 
her  temple  in  his  neighbourhood,  was  in  her  glory,  he 
hesitated  not  to  call  her  a  blasphemer.  On  hearing  of 
this,  she  attired  herself  in  her  robes,  went  to  his  house 
with  the  intention  of  overawing  and  subduing  him  to 
herpurposes  as  she  had  donemany  others.  Shecharged 
him  with  profaning  her  name.  Claiming  to  be  the  Son 
of  God,  she  threatened  that  if  he  did  not  repent  and 
humble  himself,  she  would  put  forth  her  mighty  pow- 
er, and  blast  him  and  his  family.  He  answered  that  he 
entertained  no  gods  like  her  in  his  house,  and  that  if 
she  did  not  forthwith  leave  he  would  turn  her  out;  on 
which  she  troubled  him  no  more.  Mr.  Reed  lived  to 
quite  an  advanced  age,  but  during  several  of  his  last 
years,  although  retaining  to  a  surprising  degree  his 
mental  faculties,  a  paralytic  affeftion  prevented  him 
from  doing  more  than  constantly  peruse  his  Bible  and 
Book  of  Common  Prayer.  At  the  age  of  eighty-one. 


chapter  Fourteenth  21 

having  sent  for  his  son,  the  present  Rev.  Dr.  Reed, 
and  from  his  hands  having  received  the  Holy  Com- 
munion, he  went  to  sleep  in  Christ,  revered  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

And  here  I  trust  my  early  friend  and  companion, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Reed,  will  pardon  me  for  intro- 
ducing his  name,  as  a  son  of  the  little  church  at  Nar- 
ragansett.  At  the  early  age  of  twelve  he  formed  a  de- 
termination of  acquiring  an  education  and  entering  the 
sacred  ministry  of  the  Church.  From  this  determi- 
nation he  never  swerved,  until,  by  God's  continued 
blessing,  he  effedted  his  designs.  He  mentioned  this 
determination  to  his  father,  who  sighed  and  said, 
"God  grant  it  may  be  so,  but  the  want  of  means  will 
forbid  it."  Possessing  at  least  all  the  talents,  enter- 
prise, perseverance,  and  moral  courage  of  his  father, 
and  directed  and  encouraged  by  the  advice  of  Dr. 
Smith,  how  an  education  could  be  obtained  and  how 
it  had  been  obtained  in  the  old  countries,  without  the 
assistance  of  paternal  wealth,  he  left  his  father's  home, 
at  the  age  of  sixteen,  to  acquire  means  for  his  favour- 
ite design,  by  the  teaching  of  youth.  This  honourable 
and  useful  course  he  pursued,  laboriously  studying, 
until  he  graduated  from  Union  College,  at  Schenec- 
tady, with  the  highest  honours  of  his  class.  In  the  year 
after  leaving  college,  he  was  ordained  by  the  late 
Bishop  Benjamin  Moore  and,  in  1810,  he  was  settled 
in  the  then  small  but  respedable  congregation  of 
Christ  Church,  Poughkeepsie,  of  which  he  has  now 
been  re6tor  for  thirty-five  years  and  which,  under  his 
learning,  great  prudence,  and  ceaseless  labours,  has 
grown  to  be  one  of  the  most  numerous  and  respected 
congregations  in  the  State  of  New  York.  In  1 832,  Mr. 
Reed  was  greatly  afflided  by  the  loss  of  the  companion 
of  his  youth,  who  lived  and  died  the  true  pattern  of 
thewife  of  the  Christian  clergyman.  Within  a  few  years, 
his  health  began  to  fail.  But  his  declining  years  were 


22  The  Narragansett  Church 

cheered  by  the  love  and  esteem  of  his  numerous  flock, 
the  society  of  a  most  excellent  companion,  as  his  se- 
cond wife,  and  the  comforts  arising  from  his  two  chil- 
dren :  the  one,  the  Rev.  Thomas  C.  Reed,  Professor 
in  Union  College,  and  the  other  the  accomplished 
wife  of  General  Thomas  L.  Davis,  of  Poughkeepsie. 
In  the  commencement  of  the  year  1 845,  Dr.  Reed's 
constitution  had  become  so  seriously  impaired,  that 
a  sermon,  which  he  had  prepared  to  be  delivered  on 
the  Third  Sunday  in  Lent,  in  consequence  of  his  se- 
vere illness  was  read  by  the  assistant  minister.  On 
February  15,  1845,  ^^-  R^^d  relinquished  his  salary, 
and  a  committee  of  the  Vestry,  appointed  to  consider 
the  matter,  presented  the  following  report:  "That 
they  can  but  speak  in  general  terms  of  Dr.  Reed's  de- 
votedness  to  the  Church  and  his  readiness  on  all  oc- 
casions, to  sacrifice  his  own  comfort  and  convenience 
to  the  calls  of  charity  and  to  labour  zealously  in  every 
measure,  which  has  had  the  Church  for  its  guide  and 
the  good  of  man  and  the  glory  of  God  for  its  end,  for 
a  period  of  more  than  thirty-four  years.  In  his  long 
course  of  usefulness  among  us,  as  our  Rector,  he  has 
uniformly  shown  his  just  appreciation  of  the  privi- 
lege of  being  permitted  to  devote  himself  to  the  ser- 
vice of  his  Master,  under  the  guidance  of  his  Church, 
by  his  judicious  counsels,  pious  instru6lions,  and  char- 
ities. The  good  offices,  which  he  has  rendered  to  all, 
though  grateful  in  themselves,  have  been  made  much 
more  so  because  of  being  the  spontaneous  tokens  and 
outpourings  ofa  generous  Christian  spirit.  Ever  cheer- 
ful and  ready  to  partake  as  a  Christian  may  of  all  inno- 
cent and  proper  enjoyments,  he  has  always  been  equally 
ready,  at  all  suitable  times  and  occasions,  frankly  to 
avow  and  firmly  to  defend  the  principles  of  the  Church, 
whose  doftrines  he  well  understood,  and  whose  spirit 
he  fully  exemplified  by  his  manly  and  consistent,  yet 
humble  and  unobtrusive,  devotion.  As  a  brief  tribute 


Chapter  Fourteenth  23 

of  resped:  to  this  faithful  son  of  the  Church,  your  com- 
mittee submits  the  following  resolutions: 

^'^  Resolved  ^T\\2it  this  Vestry,  in  behalf  of  the  congre- 
gation, whom  they  represent,  acknowledge  with  deep 
gratitude  to  Almighty  God,  the  signal  blessings  which 
they  have  derived  through  the  instrumentality  of  our 
venerable  and  much  respe6ted  Redlor,  From  the  in- 
fancy of  this  congregation  he  has  been  its  steadfast, 
devoted  and  self-denying  friend  and,  although  now 
past  the  meridian  of  life,  we  cannot  but  indulge  the 
hope,  in  the  Providence  of  God,  that  in  the  evening 
of  his  days,  the  congregation  may  still  be  blessed  with 
the  continuance  of  his  wise  counsel  and  pious  example, 
and  with  his  occasional  personal  services  as  our  Red:or. 

^'■Resolved,  That  this  Vestry,  with  the  assurance  to 
the  Reverend  Re6tor  of  the  warm  affedions  of  its 
individual  members,  hereby  tender  him  its  grateful 
thanks  as  a  body,  for  the  kindness,  care,  and  fidelity 
with  which  he  has  watched  over  the  interests  of  the 
Church  during  the  great  length  of  time  he  has  offi- 
ciated as  its  Redor." 

On  motion  of  the  Honourable  James  Emott,  the 
report  was  unanimously  accepted,  with  a  request  of  a 
copy  of  Dr.  Reed's  discourse  for  the  press;  which  was 
furnished  and  published  by  the  Church.  The  sermon 
is  entitled  The  Peace  of  Jerusalem. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1845,  ^r.  Reed  died  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  For  thirty-five  years 
he  had  filled  the  office  of  Pastor,  and  during  all  that 
period  he  was  not  only  devoutly  attached  to  the  flock 
over  which  he  was  placed,  but  as  warmly  beloved  by 
them  and  all  with  whom  he  had  intercourse. 

"On  the  first  Sunday  of  November,  1 761,  Mr. 
Fayerweather  Baptized  a  Son  of  Mr.  Lodowick 
Updike,''^  By  the  Name  of  Daniel,  at  Eight 
Months  Old,  In  St.  Paul's  Church." 


24         The  Narragansett  Church 

The  following  notice  containing  a  memoir,  drawn 
by  William  G.  Goddard,  Esq. ,^'9  is  extracted  from  the 
Providence  Journal:  "  The  late  Daniel  Updike,  Esq., 
who  died  at  his  residence  in  East  Greenwich,  on  the  fif- 
teenth of  June,  1842,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
one  years,  was  extensively  known  to  the  people  of 
this  State.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Lodo- 
wick  Updike,  one  of  the  most  accomplished  gentle- 
men of  the  times  in  which  he  lived,  and  grandson  of 
Daniel  Updike,'^'*  many  years  Attorney-General  under 
the  Colonial  Government.  According  to  a  somewhat 
prevalent  fashion  of  that  day,  his  early  education  was 
superintended  by  skilful  private  tutors,  who  resided 
in  the  family,  and  were,  at  the  same  time,  the  instruc- 
tors and  companions  of  their  pupils.  Mr.  Updike  was 
bred  to  the  bar,  and,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  the 
oldest  lawyer  in  Rhode  Island,  all  his  professional  con- 
temporaries having  long  since  departed  this  life,  with 
the  exception  of  Mr.  Ray  Greene,"'^  who  was  admitted 
after  him.  Both  Mr.  Updike  and  Mr.  Ray  Greene 
studied  law  with  James  Mitchell  Varnum,'*^^  probably 
the  most  eminent  man  that  ever  practised  in  Rhode 
Island.  In  1784,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  com- 
menced in  Washington  county  the  pradice  of  his  pro- 
fession, which,  however,  he  did  not  continue  after  the 
year  1795.  ^'*-  Updike  was  repeatedly  honoured  with 
public  trusts.  For  many  years  he  was  eleded  Clerk  of 
the  House  of  Representatives,  and  he  was  likewise 
chosen  for  several  terms  to  represent  North  Kings- 
town, his  native  town,  in  the  General  Assembly.  In 
1790,  he  was  Secretary  of  the  Convention,  which,  on 
the  part  of  the  people  of  Rhode  Island,  ratified  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States. ^^^  In  the  same  year, 
he  was  elefted  the  Attorney-General  of  this  State.  To 
this  office  he  declined  a  reeleftion.  In  1796,  he  was 
appointed  by  the  Eledoral  College  of  this  State  to 
carry  its  vote  to  Philadelphia,  then  the  seat  of  the 


chapter  Fourteenth  25 

National  Government.  Since  that  time  it  is  not  known 
to  the  writer  that  Mr.  Updike  has  sustained  any  pub- 
He  office. 

"Mr.  Updike  was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school, 
both  in  manners  and  dress.  His  urbane  and  courteous 
deportment  was  on  all  occasions  remarkable,  and  he 
left  upon  every  mind  the  most  grateful  impression  in 
regard  to  his  charader.  It  is  no  mean  praise  to  add, 
that  in  politics  he  was  a  federalist  of  the  old  school. 
He  possessed  a  good  library  5^°  and  found  in  books 
both  a  solace  and  a  companionship.  His  memory,  un- 
commonly a6tive  and  retentive,  was  well  stored  with 
fafts  in  relation  to  events  long  since  past  and  as  to 
personages  known  to  the  present  generation  only 
through  the  means  of  tradition.  With  all  the  old  law- 
yers of  his  day  he  was  well  acquainted.  He  preserved 
distinct  recolledions  of  Honyman,'*^^  Matthew  Robin- 
son,5^^Aplin,5^' Augustus  Johnston,''3°01iverArnold,5^' 
and  Henry  Marchant."^  At  the  bar,  he  was  associated 
with  Bradford,^^^  with  Bourne,^^^  with  Goodwin^^^  and 
with  Channing.5^^  A  pupil  of  General  Varnum,  fre- 
quently his  companion  on  his  circuit  and,  for  three 
years,  an  inmate  of  his  family,  he  had  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  habits  and  character  of  that  remark- 
able man.  Having  listened  to  all  his  great  efforts  at 
the  bar  and  before  the  Legislature,  he  was  better  quali- 
fied than  any  other  man  to  estimate  his  powers  as  an 
orator.  Among  the  interesting  relics  of  the  past,  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Updike  at  the  time  of  his  death,  is 
a  well-wrought  silver  flagon,^^''  which  was  presented 
by  Bishop  Berkeley  to  the  first  Daniel  Updike,'^'*who 
was  for  twenty-seven  years  Attorney-General  of  the 
Colony  of  Rhode  Island.  This  flagon,  being  intended 
as  a  mark  of  the  personal  friendship  of  the  Bishop  for 
their  ancestor,  is  likely  to  be  preserved,  as  a  sort  of 
heirloom,  in  this  family  of  the  Updikes. 

"The  longevity  of  Mr.  Updike^^^and  his  family 


26         The  Narragansett  Church 

speaks  well  for  the  salubrity  of  the  Narragansett  coun- 
try. His  father  and  mother  died  at  advanced  ages.  His 
surviving  brothers  and  sisters  are  eight  in  number. 
The  youngest  of  them  has  seen  more  than  fifty  years 
and  the  eldest  is  an  o6togenarian,  whose  natural  force 
seems  hardly  abated." 

"The  30''  [of  November,  1761]  Mr.  F.  Set  out 
for  Boston.  Preached  at  Kings  Chappel  Dec'  1^' 
His  Excellency  Gov'  Bernard  Present." 

Francis  Bernard  succeeded  Governor  Pownall^^^  as 
Governor  of  Massachusetts,  in  1760.  He  continued 
head  of  the  government  nine  years.  His  administra- 
tion was  during  one  of  the  most  interesting  periods 
of  American  history.  The  first  part  of  his  adminis- 
tration was  very  agreeable  to  the  General  Court  and 
much  harmony  prevailed  for  two  or  three  years.  There 
had  long  been  two  parties  in  the  State,  —  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Crown  and  the  defenders  of  the  rights  of 
the  people.  Governor  Bernard  was  soon  classed  with 
those  who  were  desirous  of  strengthening  the  royal 
authority  in  America.  The  Sons  of  Liberty,  therefore, 
stood  forth  uniformly  in  opposition  to  him.  His  in- 
discretion in  appointing  Mr.  Hutchinson '"  Chief 
Justice  instead  of  giving  that  office  to  Colonel  Otis,^^" 
to  whom  it  had  been  promised  by  Shirley ,^^^  proved 
very  injurious  to  him.  In  consequence  of  this  appoint- 
ment, he  lost  the  influence  of  Colonel  Otis  and,  by 
yielding  himself  to  Mr.  Hutchinson,  he  drew  upon 
himself  the  hostility  of  James  Otis,^'^'  the  son,  a  man 
of  great  talents,  who  soon  became  the  leader  on  the 
popular  side.  The  causes,  which  finally  brought  on  the 
American  Revolution,  were  then  operating.  Governor 
Bernard  possessed  no  talent  for  conciliation.  He  was 
for  accomplishing  ministerial  purposes  by  force,  and 
the  spirit  of  freedom  gained  strength  from  the  open 
manner  in  which  he  attempted  to  crush  it.  He  was 


chapter  Fourteenth  27 

the  principal  means  of  bringing  the  troops  to  Boston, 
that  he  might  overawe  the  people,  and  it  was  owing 
to  him  that  they  were  continued  in  the  town.  He  en- 
deavoured to  obtain  an  alteration  of  the  charter,  to 
transfer  the  right  of  eleding  from  the  General  Court 
to  the  Crown.  This  attempt,  though  it  drew  upon  him 
the  indignation  of  the  Province,  was  so  pleasing  to 
the  ministry,  that  he  was  created  a  baronet  in  1769. 
One  of  his  last  public  measures  was  to  prorogue  the 
General  Court,  in  consequence  of  their  refusing  to 
make  provision  for  the  support  of  the  troops.  It  was 
found  necessary  to  recall  him.  He  died  in  England  in 
June,  1779.='="^ 

"Sunday  the  27""  February  [1763]  Mr.  Fayer- 
weather  was  Married  To  Mrs.  Bours^^"*  In  the 
Church  at  Newport  Early  in  the  Morning 
about  8  o'clock  By  the  Reverend  Marmaduke 
Browne  ;^^^  and  that  Day  (an  Exceedingly  Cold 
Day)  Preached  on  the  Occasion  ^^^  from  these 
Words  to  a  large  Auditory  Do  ail  to  the  Glory 
of  Godr 

Respe6ling  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bours,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Stickney,^*^^  Re6lor  of  St.  Michael's,  Marblehead,  has 
kindly  furnished  the  following  memoir: 

The  Rev.  Peter  Bours,^^''  ^ys  -^^q  was  the  Redor  of 
St.  Michael's  Church  in  Marblehead,  from  1753  to 
1762,  was  the  son  of  Peter  Bours,  Esq. ,5''''  a  member 
of  theCouncil  ofthe  government  of  Rhode  Island.  He 
was  graduated  A.  B.  at  Harvard  College,  1747,  where 
he  also  afterwards  received  the  Master's  degree.  For 
some  time  before  he  proceeded  to  England  for  holy 
orders,  he  was  employed  in  reading  the  service  and 
sermons  in  several  destitute  Churches  with  universal 
approbation,  "both  for  his  abilities  and  morals." 

*  Blake's  Biography. ""' 


28  The  Narragansett  Church 

His  labours  in  the  parish  of  St.  Michael's  were  com- 
menced in  July,  1753,  and  appear  to  have  been  em- 
inently successful.  A  contemporary  describes  him  as 
a  man  of  an  excellent  temper,  good  learning,  and  great 
piety ,  whose  good  charader  gained  more  to  the  Church 
of  England  than  all  who  had  preceded  him.  Duringthe 
short  period  of  his  ministry  in  Marblehead  (less  than 
nine  years),  he  baptized  four  hundred  and  fifty-six 
infants  and  adults.  By  the  purity  of  his  doftrine,  his 
amiable  manners,  and  his  blameless  life,  he  conciliated 
the  enemies  of  the  Church,  and  his  congregation  was 
much  increased.  I  have  met  with  none  who  can  speak 
of  him  from  their  own  remembrance  of  his  person. 
There  is  no  parishioner  of  mine  who  received  his  ed- 
ifying ministrations;  but  a  traditionary  veneration  pre- 
serves his  memory  fresh  among  us;  and  we  are  happy 
in  having  an  excellent  portrait  of  him  from  the  hand 
of  Blackburn.  Mr.  Bours  is  represented  as  sitting, and 
in  his  clerical  robes.  The  figure  is  full,  though  not 
large;  and  the  face,  which  is  fair,  has  an  expression  of 
quite  uncommon  serenity  and  sweetness.  This  valua- 
ble memorial  is  in  the  possession  of  an  excellent  lady, 
the  widow  of  Mr.  Bours's  nephew. 

This  excellent  and  amiable  gentleman  died,  after  a 
very  short  illness,  February  24,  1762,  at  the  early  age 
of  thirty-six.  Above  his  mortal  remains,  which  were 
buried  in  the  grave-yard  contiguous  to  St.  Michael's 
Church,  a  monument  was  eredled  which  bears  the  fol- 
lowing epitaph : 

UNDER  THIS  STONE 

LIES  THE  BODY 

OF  THE  REV'D  PETER  BOURS, 

ONCE 

MINISTER  OF  THIS  CHURCH  : 

WHICH  OFFICE 

FOR  THE  SPACE  OF  NINE  YEARS, 

HE  DISCHARGED  WITH  FAITHFULNESS, 

TEACHING  THE  DOCTRINES  OF  THE  GOSPEL 

WITH  PLAINNESS  AND  FERVENCY; 


chapter  Fourteenth  29 

ILLUSTRATING  THE  TRUTH  AND  REALITY  OF  WHAT  HE  TAUGHT 

BY  HIS  OWN  LIFE, 

THE  GOODNESS  OF  WHICH 

JOYNED 

WITH  GREAT  CANDOUR 

AND  UNBOUNDED  BENEVOLENCE  OF  MIND, 

OBTAINED  FOR  HIM, 

NOT  ONLY 

THE  MOST  SINCERE  LOVE  OF  HIS  OWN  PEOPLE, 

BUT  ALSO 

THE  ESTEEM  OF  VIRTUOUS  MEN 

OF  EVERY  PERSUASION. 

HE  DIED  FEB'Y  24TH,  176Z, 

AGED  36  YEARS. 

TO  HIS  MEMORY, 

HIS  PEOPLE  HAVE  ERECTED  THIS  MONUMENT, 

IN  TESTIMONY 

OF  HIS  GREAT  WORTH, 

AND  THEIR  SINCERE  REGARDS. 

PERSUASION  DRAWS,  EXAMPLE  LEADS  THE  MIND  : 

THEIR  DOUBLE  FORCE  COMPELS,  WHEN  MEETLY  JOINED. 

"Feb'y  26""  [1764]  Mr.  Fayerweather  Jour- 
ney'd  to  Marblehead,  Preached  In  St.  Michael's 
Church,  and  Christened  a  child  for  the  Rever- 
end Mr.  Weeks  at  the  Font  there." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Stickney  has  also  transmitted  the 
following  notice: 

"The  Rev.  Joshua  Wingate  Weeks  "^""succeeded  the 
Rev.  Peter  Bours,  in  the  reftorship  of  St.  Michael's 
Church,  in  Marblehead.  He  was  educated  at  Har- 
vard College,  where  he  received  the  Bachelor's  de- 
gree in  1758.  Mr.  Weeks  was  appointed  by  the  Ven- 
erable Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  to 
be  their  missionary  in  Marblehead,  at  the  earnest  re- 
quest of  the  Church-wardens  and  vestry,  seconded 
by  the  testimonials  of  His  Excellency  Benning  Went- 
worth,  Esq.,^°'  Governor  of  New  Hampshire, and  the 
Rev.  Arthur  Browne,^°^  of  Portsmouth,  and  many 
others,  to  his  character  and  qualifications.  The  same 


30  The  Narragansett  Church 

contemporary,  who  has  recorded  his  testimony  to  the 
excellent  worth  of  Mr.  Bours,  speaks  of  Mr.  Weeks 
as  a  Virtuous,  sweet-tempered,  learned  gentleman.' 

"  The  letter  of  the  vestry  to  the  Venerable  Society  in 
London  is  dated  November  4,1762,,  and  Mr.  Weeks 
began  his  ministry  in  Marblehead,  in  July,  1763.  As 
a  Christian  pastor  he  was  diligent,  laborious,  and  faith- 
ful. Four  hundred  and  sixty-eight  infants  and  adults 
were  baptized  in  the  Church  during  his  residence.  The 
glebe  was  enlarged  by  purchase,  the  church  repaired, 
and  the  congregation  increased.  In  1768  the  parish  in- 
cluded one-fifth  part,  at  least,  of  all  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town,  then  amounting  to  six  thousand  five  hun- 
dred souls.  He  lived  at  peace  with  dissenters  from 
the  Church,  yet  was  a  steadfast  friend  of  her  institu- 
tions, and  ready  to  suffer  violence  and  wrong  for  her 
sake.  He  was  assiduous  and  unwearied  in  his  sacred 
calling  till,  in  the  progress  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion, the  conflid  (as  he  regarded  it)  between  his  new 
civil  duties  and  his  oath  of  ordination  compelled  him 
to  desist  from  the  public  services  of  the  Church.  Sub- 
sequently the  intolerant  violence  of  an  over-suspicious 
or  vindidive  populace  obliged  this  excellent  man  to 
leave  a  distressed  wife  and  family  and  flee  his  native 
land. 

"Mr.  Weeks's  own  account  of  his  sufferings  from 
political  persecution  is  published  in  the  annual  ab- 
stra6t  of  the  report  of  the  doings  of  the  Venerable 
Society,  for  the  year  1779.  It  is  as  follows: 

"'That  for  nearly  a  twelvemonth  after  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  his  people  generally  attended 
divine  service  in  the  Church,  where  he  used  the  Lit- 
urgy complete,  'till  a  law  passed  in  the  General  As- 
sembly against  it.That  he  then  satisfied  himself  with 
visiting  his  flock  from  house  to  house,  instrufting  and 
baptizing  their  children,  and  encouraging  them  to 
patience  and  perseverance  in  duty  under  their  diffi- 


chapter  Fourteenth  31 

cult  and  trying  situation,  cautiously  avoiding  to  give 
any  offence  by  intermeddling  with  civil  affairs.  But  no 
innocency  of  intentions  and  no  peaceableness  of  con- 
dudl  could  bring  him  security  from  the  wild  and  un- 
distinguishing  rage  of  party.  He  was  not  permitted 
to  remain  in  this  quiet  state,  but  was  summoned,  in 
the  month  of  06tober,  1777,  before  the  special  court 
at  Salem  to  answer  to  charges  of  what  he  had  never 
done,  and  of  which  he  was  necessarily  acquitted.  But 
about  a  year  after,  he  was  called  upon  to  take  the 
oath  of  abjuration,  a  refusal  of  which  was  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  imprisonment  during  pleasure,  and  after- 
wards by  banishment,  perpetual,  from  the  country. 
As  the  taking  this  oath  would  have  been  a  violation 
of  his  conscience  and  duty,  he  freely  declared  that  he 
could  not  take  it;  and  then  petitioned  the  General 
Court,  at  Boston,  to  give  him  leave  to  retire,  which 
was  most  unjustly  and  inconsistently  refused.  Being 
thus  reduced  to  the  sad  dilemma  of  either  hurting  his 
conscience  by  taking  the  oath,  or  of  being  exposed 
to  most  dreadful  consequences  if  he  did  not,  he  pri- 
vately endeavoured,  and  happily  succeeded  in  making 
his  escape,  leaving  behind  him  a  mournful  wife  with 
eight  children,  relying  on  the  pity  and  humanity  of 
friends  to  support  them.' 

"After  a  residence  of  some  time  in  England,  Mr. 
Weeks  was  appointed  to  a  field  of  labour  near  Halifax, 
in  the  British  province  of  Nova  Scotia,  where  he  was 
joined  by  his  wife  and  family,  and  where  (it  is  be- 
lieved) he  laboured  until  the  close  of  his  life." 

"February  17"^  [1765.]  Mr.  Fayerweather 
Preached  at  Newport,  and  Baptized  three  chil- 
dren, one  of  Governor  Wantons;  and  all  with 
their  Proper  Sponsors." 

Edward  Wanton  ^°^  emigrated  from  London  to 
Boston  before  1658.  He  assisted  in  the  execution  of 


32  The  Narragansett  Church 

the  Quakers,  in  1659.  Convinced  of  the  injustice  of 
their  persecution,  and  won  by  the  fortitude  and  resig- 
nation with  which  they  suffered,  he  became  a  convert 
to  their  faith.  He  removed  to  Scituate,  Massachusetts, 
in  1 66 1,  where  he  had  previously  purchased  an  estate. 
He  became  a  Quaker  preacher, and  was  a  popular  pro- 
pagator of  their  dodrines.  He  died  at  Scituate,  aged 
eighty-five. 

His  eldest  son,  Joseph,^"'*  settled  at  Tiverton, 
Rhode  Island,  in  1688,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
speakers  in  the  Society  of  Friends. 

William  Wanton ''"^  (^son  of  Edward)  left  Scituate  in 
1704,  and  settled  in  Newport.  Before  his  removal  he 
married  Ruth,  the  daughter  of  Deacon  Bryant;  she 
was  a  Congregationalist,  and  he  a  Quaker.  Religious 
obje6tions  were  made  against  the  match  on  both  sides. 
He  said,  "Friend  Ruth,  let  us  break  from  this  un- 
reasonable bondage — /  will  give  up  my  religion,  and 
thou  shalt  thine^  and  we  will  go  over  to  the  Church  of 
England,  and  go  to  the  devil  together y  They  fulfilled 
this  resolution  so  far  as  to  go  to  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, marrying,  and  adhering  to  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land during  life.  He  followed  a  seafaring  life,  was  cap- 
tain of  a  privateer,  and  afterwards  became  a  successful 
merchant.  He  sustained  many  offices.  In  1732,  he  was 
elefted  Governor  of  the  State,  and  was  reeledted  in 
1733.  He  died  in  December  of  that  year.  Daniel  Up- 
dike,'^'* the  Attorney-General  of  the  Colony,  married 
his  widow.^"*"  She  survived  her  last  husband  many 
years.* 

John  Wanton,^°^  brother  of  William,  from  success 
in  trade,  had  become  one  of  the  most  wealthy  citi- 
zens of  Newport.  He  adhered  to  the  faith  of  the  Qua- 
kers, and  travelled  much  as  a  religious  teacher.  To 
heal  party  divisions,  which  ran  high  at  this  period, 
he  was  induced  to  permit  himself  to  be  voted  for, 

*Deane's  Scituate. 


chapter  Fourteenth  33 

and  was  elected  Governor  in  1734,  and  was  succes- 
sively reeleded  for  six  years.  He  died  in  office  July  5, 
1740. 

Gideon  Wanton/"^  son  of  Joseph,  and  nephew  of 
William  and  John,  was  an  enterprising  merchant  of 
Newport,  and,  in  addition  to  other  offices,  was  eledled 
Governor  of  Rhode  Island  in  1745  and  1747.  He 
died  September  12,  1767,  aged  seventy-four. 

Joseph  Wanton  ^°^  was  a  son  of  William,  who  died 
Governor  in  1 733 ,  and  a  grandson  of  the  first  Edward. 
He  was  an  opulent  merchant  in  Newport,  and  was 
connected  by  blood  and  affinity  with  the  wealthiest 
and  most  popular  families  in  the  Colony.  In  1764  and 
1767  he  was  eledied  Lieutenant-Governor  through  the 
Hopkins"*^^  influence.  In  1769,  he  succeeded  Gover- 
nor Lyndon,^'°  as  Governor  of  the  Colony,  and  was 
annually  reeleded  Governor,  until  the  political  trou- 
bles of  1 775,  when  the  office  was  declared  vacant.  The 
foUowingpolitical  handbill  which  was  circulated  among 
the  people,  previous  to  the  elediion  of  April,  1775, 
is  copied  here,  as  illustrating  the  spirit  of  the  times. 
The  people  were  beginning  to  divide,  and  take  sides 
in  relation  to  the  measures  of  the  mother  country, 
which  soon  after  produced  the  Revolution;  but  the 
crisis  had  not  then  arrived. 

To  the  Freemen  of  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island: 

GENTLEMEN :  As  it  has  been  generally  wished 
and  expe6led,  especially  in  this  Part  of  the  Colony, 
that  at  the  ensuing  Eledion  there  might  not  be  any 
Contest  respecting  General  Offices,  and  as  a  Prox^" 
now  appears  with  some  alterations,  it  is  probable  you 
may  be  desirous  to  know  the  true  Reasons  thereof;  in 
Justice  therefore  to  Governor  Wanton,  I  think  it  my 
duty  to  lay  them  before  you,  and  shall  be  as  concise 
as  possible. 

Some  Time  last  Month,  a  Gentleman  in  this  Town 


34  The  Narragansett  Church 

came  to  me,  with  a  Request  from  several  Persons  in 
Newport,  that  I  would  use  my  Influence  to  remove 
Governor  Wanton  from  the  Chair,  because  they  sus- 
pe6led  he  held  Principles  unfriendly  to  the  Charter 
Rights  of  this  Colony;  to  which  I  replied,  that  what 
influence  I  had  I  should  use  to  establish  him  in  the 
Chair,  as  I  believed  there  was  no  foundation  for  sup- 
posing that  he  was  inimical  to  the  Freedom  and  Wel- 
fare of  the  Colony.  About  a  Week  afterwards  a  Gen- 
tleman from  Newport  made  a  similar  Application:  I 
told  him  it  was  my  Opinion,  the  Freemen  would  dis- 
countenance an  Opposition:  He  then  said,  he  would 
agree  Governor  Wanton  should  continue  in  his  Office, 
provided  no  Alteration  was  made  in  the  Prox,  by  op- 
posing either  of  the  Assistants  who  were  chosen  at  the 
last  Eledion.  As  this  Proposal  appeared  calculated  to 
preserve  the  Colony  from  intestine  Divisions  I  gave 
it  as  my  Sentiment,  that  Governor  Wanton  would 
readily  assent  thereto,  and  accordingly  wrote  him  upon 
the  Subjed::  He  replied,  that  for  his  Part  he  had  no 
Objedion  to  the  Proposal,  neither  had  he  Reason  to 
believe  any  would  be  made. 

As  I  supposed  this  Gentleman  was  authorized  to 
make  this  Proposal,  I  was  in  Hope  that  the  Colony 
would  have  remained  in  a  Stateof  Tranquillity,  more 
especially  as  the  present  Conjundlure  of  our  public 
Aff'airs  so  loudly  calls  for  Unanimity  amongst  our- 
selves; But  contrary  to  my  Exped:ations,  the  Prosped: 
I  then  had  of  seeing  the  Colony  in  a  State  of  Peace, 
is  now  blasted,  unwearied  Pains  having  been  taken  to 
form  an  Opposition  to  the  Governor,  and  I  have  the 
most  undoubted  Authority  to  inform  you,  that  on 
Thursday  last  the  principal  Persons  concerned  in  that 
Matter  proposed  to  him,  that  he  might  remain  in  Office, 
if  a  Majority  of  their  Friends  could  be  put  into  the 
Prox  with  him;  which  Overture,  appearing  so  con- 
traded  and  ungenerous,  was  inadmissible :  But  to  con- 


ter  Fourteenth  35 


Chap 

vince  them  of  his  Solicitude  to  adopt  every  reasonable 
conciliating  Measure,  he  replied,  he  was  willing  they 
should  nominate  five  Persons  for  Magistrates,  whose 
Names  he  would  print  in  his  Prox  for  the  Approba- 
tion of  the  Freemen.  Notwithstanding  the  apparent 
Candour  and  Equity  of  this  Offer,  it  was  rejected  by 
those  Gentlemen,  which  so  plainly  indicated  their  In- 
tention of  an  Opposition,  that  he  thought  it  justifia- 
ble to  print  his  Prox  as  it  now  stands. 

Many  Reports  having  been  propagated  injurious 
to  the  Charadler  of  Governor  Wanton,  in  my  Opinion 
without  any  Foundation  in  Truth,  from  an  intimate 
Acquaintance  with  his  public  Condu6l,  during  his  Ad- 
ministration, I  conceive  it  to  be  my  Duty  to  endea- 
vour to  remove  any  unfavourable  Impressions  which 
may  have  been  made  on  your  Minds,  from  disingenu- 
ous Insinuations  respe6ling  his  political  Principles,  by 
assuring  you,  that  he  has  always  manifested  an  affec- 
tionate Regard  for  your  Charter  Rights;  and  upon 
every  Occasion  exhibited  the  strongest  Proofs  of  his 
Readiness  to  serve  your  true  Interest,  by  a  cheerful 
Concurrence  with  every  Measure  calculated  to  ad- 
vance the  Credit,  Happiness,  and  Reputation  of  the 
Colony;  and  I  have  the  highest  Reason  to  believe  that 
he  will  not,  in  any  Instance  betray  the  sacred  Trust 
which  you  have  been  pleased  to  repose  in  him,  as  your 
Chief  Magistrate.  I  am,  Gentlemen, 

Your  real  Friend  and  Servant, 

Darius  Sessions  '*'*' 

Providence^  April  15,  1 775 

Governor  Wanton  was,  however,  reeleded  by  the 
people  on  the  third  Wednesday  of  April,  1775;  and 
in  consequence  of  the  Boston  Port  Bill,  the  Legisla- 
ture was  specially  convened  at  Providence,  on  Satur- 
day, the  22d  day  of  the  same  April,  and  after  the 
annual  eledion  of  Governor  and  Senate — but  the  of- 


36  The  Narragansett  Church 

iicers  eleft  could  not,  by  Charter,  be  induded  and  sworn 
into  office  until  the  first  Wednesday  of  May  ensuing. 
At  this  special  session,  the  General  Assembly  passed 
the  following  preamble  and  resolution: 

"At  this  very  dangerous  crisis  in  American  affairs; 
at  a  time  when  we  are  surrounded  by  fleets  and  armies, 
which  threaten  our  immediate  destruction;  at  a  time 
when  the  fears  and  anxieties  of  the  people  throw  them 
into  the  utmost  distress,  and  totally  prevent  them  from 
attending  to  the  common  occupations  of  life;  to  pre- 
vent the  mischievous  consequences  that  must  neces- 
sarily attend  such  a  disordered  state,  and  to  restore 
peace  to  the  minds  of  the  good  people  of  this  Colony, 
it  appears  absolutely  necessary  to  this  Assembly  that 
a  number  of  men  be  raised  and  embodied,  properly 
armed  and  disciplined,  to  continue  in  this  Colony  as 
an  Army  of  Observation^  to  repel  any  insult  or  violence 
that  may  be  offered  to  the  inhabitants;  and  also,  if  it 
be  necessary  for  the  safety  and  preservation  of  any  of 
the  Colonies,  to  march  out  of  this  Colony,  and  join 
and  cooperate  with  the  force  of  the  neighbouring  Col- 
onies; //  is  voted  and  resolved^  That  fifteen  hundred 
men  be  enlisted,  raised,  and  embodied  as  aforesaid, 
with  all  the  expedition  and  despatch  that  the  nature 
of  the  thing  will  admit  of." 

To  which  resolution  Governor  Wanton,  and  others, 
made  the  following  protest: 

"We,  the  subscribers,  professing  true  allegiance  to 
His  Majesty  King  George  the  Third, beg  leave  to  dis- 
sent from  the  vote  of  the  House  of  Magistrates,  for 
enlisting,  raising,  and  embodying  an  Army  of  Obser- 
vation of  fifteen  hundred  men,  to  repel  any  insult  or 
violence  that  may  be  offered  to  the  inhabitants;  and 
also,  if  it  be  necessary  for  the  safety  and  preservation 
of  any  of  the  Colonies,  to  march  out  of  this  Colony, 
and  join  and  cooperate  with  the  forces  of  the  neigh- 
bouring Colonies  —  Because  we  are  of  opinion  that 


'yt^/a^>tyPy 


Chapter  Fourteenth  37 

such  a  measure  will  be  attended  with  the  most  fatal 
consequences  to  our  Charter  privileges,  will  involve 
the  Colony  in  all  the  horrors  of  a  civil  war,  and,  as  we 
conceive,  will  be  an  open  violation  of  the  oath  of  al- 
legiance, which  we  have  severally  taken  upon  our  ad- 
mission into  the  respective  offices  we  now  hold  in  this 
Colony. 

Joseph  Wanton 
Darius  Sessions 
Thomas  Wickes""'^ 
William  Potter''"' 

In  the  Upper  House,  Providence,  Jpril  25,  1775  " 

Notwithstanding  the  aforesaid  protest,  the  ad  did 
pass  the  Senate;  the  orders  were  issued,  and  General 
Nathaniel  Greene  was  appointed  Brigadier-General  of 
the  Brigade.  The  protest  created  great  excitement.  At 
the  May  session  of  the  Assembly,  Governor  Wanton 
transmitted  the  following  letter: 

Newport,  May  2,  1775 

To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  English  Colony 
of  Rhode  Island,  to  be  holden  at  Providence,  on  the 
first  Wednesday  of  May,  1775 

GENTLEMEN:  As  indisposition  prevents  my 
meeting  you  in  the  General  Assembly,  that  can- 
dour I  have  so  often  experienced  from  the  Represen- 
tatives of  the  freemen  of  the  Colony  encourages  me  to 
hope  that  you  will  excuse  my  personal  attendance  at 
this  session.  Since  the  last  session  of  the  General  As- 
sembly at  Providence,  I  have  had  the  honour  of  re- 
ceiving a  letter  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  one  of 
His  Majesty's  principal  Secretaries  of  State,  dated 
Whitehall,  the  3''  of  March,  1775,  enclosing  the  reso- 
lutions of  the  House  of  Commons,  respefting  the  pro- 
visions which  they  exped:  this  Colony  or  Province  in 
America  to  make  for  the  common  defence,  and  also 
for  the  civil  government  and  the  administration  of  jus- 


38  The  Narragansett  Church 

tice  in  such  Colony,  both  which  I  have  diredied  to  be 
laid  before  you ;  and,  also,  a  letter  from  the  Provincial 
Congress,  which  are  all  the  public  letters  I  have  re- 
ceived during  the  recess. 

As  the  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Col- 
onies is  now  brought  to  a  most  alarming,  dangerous 
crisis  and  this  once  happy  country  threatened  with  all 
the  horrors  and  calamities  of  civil  war,  I  consider  my- 
self bound  by  every  tie  of  duty  and  affeftion,  as  well 
as  from  an  ardent  desire  to  see  a  union  between  Great 
Britain  and  her  Colonies  upon  an  equitable,  perma- 
nent basis,  to  entreat  you  to  enter  into  the  considera- 
tion of  the  resolutions  of  the  House  of  Commons  and 
also,  his  lordship's  letter,  which  accompanied  that  re- 
solution, with  the  temper,  calmness,  and  deliberation 
which  the  importance  of  them  demands,  and  with  that 
inclination  to  a  reconciliation  with  the  Parent  State 
which  will  recommend  your  proceedings  to  His  Ma- 
jesty and  both  Houses  of  Parliament.  The  prosperity 
andhappiness  of  this  Colony  is  founded  on  its  connec- 
tion with  Great  Britain,  "  for  if  once  we  are  separated, 
where  shall  we  find  another  Britain  to  supply  our  loss.^" 
Torn  from  the  body  to  which  we  are  united  by  reli- 
gion, liberty,  laws  and  commerce,  we  must  bleed  at 
every  vein."  Your  Charter  privileges  are  of  too  much 
importance  to  be  forfeited.  You  will,  therefore,  duly 
consider  the  interesting  matters  now  before  you  with 
the  most  attentive  caution;  and  let  me  entreat  you 
not  to  suffer  your  proceedings  for  accommodating 
these  disputes,  which  have  too  long  subsisted  between 
both  countries,  to  have  the  least  appearance  of  an- 
ger or  resentment;  but  that  a  kind,  respeftful  beha- 
viour towards  His  Majesty,  and  both  Houses  of  Par- 
liament, accompany  all  your  deliberations. 

I  shall  always  be  ready  to  join  with  you  in  every 
measure  which  will  secure  the  full  possession  of  our 
invaluable  Charter  privileges  to  the  latest  posterity, 


chapter  Fourteenth  39 

and  prevent  the  good  people  of  this  Colony  from  that 
ruin  and  destru(5tion  which,  in  my  opinion,  some  of 
the  orders  of  the  late  Assembly  must  inevitably  in- 
volve them  in,  if  they  are  not  speedily  repealed;  for, 
besides  the  fatal  consequences  of  levying  war  against 
the  King,  the  immense  load  of  debt  that  will  be  in- 
curred, if  the  late  resolutions  for  raising  an  Army  of 
Observation  of  fifteen  hundred  men  within  this  Col- 
ony be  carried  into  execution,  will  be  insupportable, 
and  must  unavoidably  bring  on  universal  bankruptcy 
throughout  the  Colony. 

If  I  have  the  honour  of  being  reelected,  I  shall,  as 
I  ever  have  done,  cheerfully  unite  with  you  in  every 
proceeding  (which  may  be  consistent  with  that  duty 
and  allegiance  which  I  owe  to  the  King  and  the  British 
Constitution)  for  increasing  the  welfare  and  happiness 
of  this  government.  I  am,  with  great  respeft  and  es- 
teem, Gentlemen, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

J.  Wanton 

Between  the  day  in  April,  on  which  the  General 
Officers  were  elefted  by  the  people,  and  the  session 
of  the  Legislature  in  May,  at  which  time  those  that 
were  ele6led  took  the  oath  of  office,  the  battle  of 
Lexington  had  taken  place ;  American  blood  had  been 
shed;  the  popular  mind  was  in  a  high  state  of  excite- 
ment, and  the  Governor,  by  his  letter,  was  adjudged 
a  decided  adherent  to  the  cause  of  the  Crown.  The 
majority  against  him  in  the  Legislature  was  strong 
and  determined.  Lieutenant-Governor  Sessions  and 
Thomas  Wickes  declined  the  offices  to  which  they  had 
been  elected.  At  the  same  May  session,  Nicholas 
Cooke  ^'^  was  ele6led  Lieutenant-Governor  by  the 
General  Assembly,  in  the  room  of  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor Sessions,  and  James  Arnold,^'"*  in  the  room  of 
Thomas  Wickes. 


40  The  Narragansett  Church 

At  the  same  May  session,  the  Legislature  passed 
the  following  a6l  to  prevent  Governor  Wanton  from 
adting  as  Governor: 

"Whereas  the  Ministry  and  Parliament  of  Great 
Britain,  sacrificing  the  glory  and  happiness  of  their 
sovereign,  and  the  good  of  Britain  and  the  Colonies 
to  their  own  ambitious  and  lucrative  views,  have  en- 
tered into  many  arbitrary,  illegal  resolutions  for  de- 
priving His  Majesty's  subjedis  in  America  of  every 
security  for  the  enjoyment  of  life,  liberty  and  pro- 
perty, and  have  sent,  and  are  still  sending,  troops  and 
ships  of  war  into  these  Colonies  to  enforce  their 
tyrannical  mandates;  and  have  a6lually  begun  to  shed 
the  blood  of  the  innocent  people  of  these  Colonies; 
in  consequence  whereof  this  Assembly,  at  the  session 
held  on  the  twenty-second  day  of  April  last,  passed 
an  ad;  for  raising  fifteen  hundred  men,  as  an  Army 
of  Observation,  and  to  assist  any  of  our  sister  Col- 
onies :  And  whereas  the  Honourable  Joseph  Wanton, 
Esquire,  then  Governor  of  this  Colony,  did  enter  a 
protest  against  the  said  ad,  conceived  in  such  terms 
as  highly  to  refled  upon  the  General  Assembly,  and 
upon  the  united  opposition  of  all  America  to  the 
aforesaid  tyrannical  measures:  And  whereas  the  said 
Joseph  Wanton,  Esq.  hath  negleded  to  issue  a  pro- 
clamation for  the  due  observation  of  Thursday,  the 
eleventh  of  May  instant,  as  a  day  of  Fasting  and 
Prayer,  agreeable  to  an  ad  passed  at  the  said  ses- 
sion: And  whereas  the  said  Joseph  Wanton,  Esq, 
hath  been  eleded  to  the  office  of  Governor  of  this 
Colony  for  the  present  year,  and  been  notified  there- 
of by  this  Assembly,  notwithstanding  which,  he  hath 
not  attended  at  this  General  Assembly,  and  taken  the 
oath  required  by  law:  and  whereas  the  said  Joseph 
Wanton,  Esq.  hath  positively  refused  to  sign  the 
commissions  for  the  officers  appointed  to  command 
the  troops  so  ordered  to  be  raised:  By  all  which  he 


chapter  Fourteenth  41 

hath  manifested  his  intentions  to  defeat  the  good 
people  of  these  Colonies  in  their  present  glorious 
struggle  to  transmit  inviolate  to  posterity  those  sacred 
rights  they  have  received  from  their  ancestors  —  Be 
it  therefore  ena^ed  by  this  General  Assembly^  ^c.^ — 
That  the  Deputy  Governor  and  Assistants  (Senators), 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  forbid  to  administer  the  oath 
of  office  to  the  said  Joseph  Wanton,  Esquire,  unless 
in  free  and  open  General  Assembly,  according  to  the 
unvaried  praftice  of  this  Colony,  and  with  the  consent 
of  this  Assembly.  That  until  the  said  Joseph  Wanton, 
Esquire,  shall  have  taken  the  oath  of  office  as  afore- 
said, it  shall  not  be  lawful  for  him  to  ad;  as  Governor 
of  this  Colony  in  any  case  whatever.  And  that  every 
ad:  done  by  him,  in  the  pretended  capacity  of  Gov- 
ernor, shall  be  null  and  void  in  itself,  and  shall  not 
operate  as  a  warrant  or  discharge  to  any  person  adling 
by  his  orders,  or  under  his  authority." 

An  a6l  was  passed  at  the  same  session  authorizing 
and  empowering  Henry  Ward,'*^'  the  Secretary  of  the 
Colony,  to  sign  all  commissions  instead  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, and  the  same  to  be  as  valid  as  if  signed  by  him. 
At  the  June  session.  Governor  Wanton  demanded 
that  the  oath  of  office  of  Governor  should  be  adminis- 
tered to  him,  which  was  denied,  and  the  adl  of  disquali- 
fication continued. 

"The  General  Assembly,  at  the  session  holden  in 
Providence  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  May  last,  hav- 
ing passed  an  aft  prohibiting  His  Honour  the  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor and  the  Senate  from  administering 
the  oath  of  office  to  the  Hon.  Joseph  Wanton,  Es- 
quire, who  was  elefted  Governor  of  this  Colony  for 
the  present  year,  and  declaring  all  a6ls  by  him  done 
in  the  pretended  capacity  of  Governor,  null  and  void, 
until  he  shall  be  engaged  in  open  General  Assembly, 
and  with  the  consent  of  the  General  Assembly,  &c. : 
And  the  said  Joseph  Wanton  having  appeared  before 


42  The  Narragansett  Church 

this  Assembly,  and  demanded  that  the  oath  of  office 
be  administered  to  him :  and  this  General  Assembly 
having  taken  the  same  into  consideration,  do  vote  and 
resolve.  That  the  said  Joseph  Wanton  hath  not  given 
satisfadion  to  this  Assembly:  That  the  said  recited  a6l, 
passed  at  the  last  session,  continue  and  be  in  force  until 
the  rising  of  the  General  Assembly  at  thenext  session." 
This  ad;  of  disqualification  was  continued  until  the 
06tober  session,  1775,  when  the  General  Assembly 
declared  the  office  vacant  by  the  following  A6t: 
"Whereas  this  General  Assembly,  at  their  session  held 
in  Providence,  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  May  last, 
made  and  passed  an  adl  (for  divers  weighty  reasons 
therein  mentioned),  to  prevent  the  Hon.  Joseph 
Wanton,  Esquire,  who  was  chosen  Governor  of  this 
Colony  at  the  General  Election  held  on  the  first 
Wednesday  of  May,  from  a6ling  in  said  office,  which 
a6l  hath  been  continued  from  session  to  session  until 
now,  without  proceeding  to  declare  said  office  vacant, 
from  a  tender  regard  to  the  said  Joseph  Wanton,  and 
in  order  to  give  him  an  opportunity  to  make  due  satis- 
fadlion  for  his  former  condudl,  and  of  convincing  this 
General  Assembly  of  his  friendly  disposition  to  the 
United  Colonies  in  general,  and  to  this  Colony  in  par- 
ticular: And  whereas  the  said  Joseph  Wanton,  by  the 
whole  course  of  his  behaviour  since  the  passage  of  said 
aft,  hath  continued  to  demonstrate  that  he  is  inimical 
to  the  rights  and  liberties  of  America,  and  is  thereby 
rendered  totally  unfit  to  sustain  the  said  office:  And 
whereas  the  calamities  of  the  present  times  make  it 
necessary  to  this  General  Assembly  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  advantages  given  them  by  Charter  and 
the  fundamental  principles  of  the  Constitution  —  This 
General  Assembly  therefore  resolve  and  declare,  <y<r..  That 
the  said  Joseph  Wanton  hath  justly  forfeited  the  office 
of  Governor  of  this  Colony, and  thereby  the  said  office 
is  become  vacant." 


Chapter  Fourteenth  43 

At  the  same  session,  the  General  Assembly  ele6led 
Nicholas  Cooke,^'^  then  Lieutenant-Governor,  to  fill 
the  vacant  ofiice  of  Governor,  and  Dr. William  Brad- 
ford ^^Ho  fill  the  office  of  Lieutenant-Governor,  va- 
cated by  the  promotion  of  Mr.  Cooke.  They  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  receive  from  Governor  Wan- 
ton the  original  charter,  letters,  &c.,  and  deliver  them 
to  Nicholas  Cooke,  and  the  duplicate  of  the  Charter 
from  the  late  Lieutenant-Governor  Sessions,'*'*' and  de- 
liver the  same  to  Lieutenant-Governor  Bradford,  his 
successor.  Governor  Wanton  maintained  a  dignified 
silence,and  refused  to  comply  with  the  last  resolution. 
Thereupon  the  General  Assembly  at  their  February 
session,  1776,  ordered  the  Sheriff  of  Newport  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  house  of  Governor  Wanton,  and  to  take 
possession  of  the  charter,  papers,  &c.,  and  deliver 
them  to  the  committee,  and,  in  case  of  any  resistance 
by  him,  to  take  him  into  custody  and  bring  him  be- 
fore the  General  Assembly.  At  the  March  session,  the 
sheriff  reported,  that  with  his  deputies  he  forthwith 
proceeded  "unto  the  house  of  the  Honourable  Joseph 
Wanton,  Esquire,  late  Governor  of  this  Colony,  and 
in  his  absence,  took  and  carried  away  from  and  out 
of  said  house,  a  chest,  in  which  were  and  are  deposited 
the  Charter  of  the  Colony,  &c.,"  and  delivered  them 
to  the  committee  appointed  to  receive  them. 

Thus  ended  the  political  life  of  the  Wanton  family 
in  Rhode  Island,  which  had  for  a  great  number  of 
years,  from  uncommon  personal  popularity  and  family 
influence,  sustained  so  many  important  offices  in  the 
Colony.  During  the  occupation  of  Newport  by  the 
British  forces.  Governor  Wanton  led  a  quiet  and  un- 
obtrusive life;  and  on  their  departure,  remained  un- 
molested upon  its  reoccupation  by  the  Americans." 
He  was  a  man  of  amiable  disposition,  elegant  man- 
ners, handsome  person  and  splendid  appearance. ^'^ 
He  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 


44         The  Narragansett  Church 

dressed  in  the  finest  style  of  the  times,  with  a  large 
white  wig,  with  three  curls,  one  falling  down  his  back, 
and  one  forward  of  each  shoulder.  He  died  at  New- 
port, July  19,  1780,  aged  seventy-five,  and  was  in- 
terred in  the  family  vault  in  the  Clifton  burial  place. 

Governor  Joseph  Wanton  married  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Still  Winthrop,  of  New  London.^''' They 
left  three  sons  and  five  daughters:*"'' 

(i)  Joseph ^'^  was  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  at  or 
near  Liverpool,  in  England. 

(2)  William, who  was  appointed  colledorof  the  cus- 
toms, at  St.  John's,  in  Nova  Scotia,  and  died  there. 

(3)  John,  died  young. 

(4)  Ann,  born  March,  1734.  In  1764  she  was  mar- 
ried to  Winthrop  Saltonstall,  of  New  London,  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Leaming."^  She  died  in  1784  and  left  five 
children:  i.  Gurdon.'"^  1.  Winthrop.^'°  3.  Rebecca.^'' 
4.  Mary  Wanton ;  and  5.  Ann.  Mary  Wanton  Salton- 
stall was  married  November  29,  1789,  to  Thomas 
Coit,  M.D.,  of  New  London,  by  Rev.  Henry  Chan- 
ning.  Of  their  children,  the  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Coit, 
D.D.,"''*'^^  is  nowthe  Redor  of  Trinity  Church,  at  New 
Rochelle,New  York,  and  the  Rev.  Gurdon  S.  Coit^^^ 
is  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  settled  at  Bridgeport,  Con- 
necticut. To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Coit,  the  distinguished  de- 
fender of  the  Church,  and  author  o{ Puritanism;  or,  a 
Churchman  s  Defence  against  its  Aspersions^  by  an  Ap- 
peal to  its  own  History,  the  author  acknowledges  his 
obligations  for  important  information  and  assistance. 

(5)  Mary,*'^'*  married  Captain  John  Coddington,^^^ 
of  Newport. 

(6)  Elizabeth,  married  Thomas  Wickham,*^^^  of 
Newport. 

*Dr.  Coit  in  a  letter  states:  "Through  my  grandfather  the  chair  in 
which  Dean  Berkeley  used  to  sit*^'  at  Newport  has  descended  to 
me,  and  is  still  in  good  preservation.  It  is  the  one  in  which  he  is  be- 
lieved to  have  composed  his  Minute  Philosopher.^''  [J  cut  of  tins  chair 
is  given  in  the  Appendix?^ 


chapter  Fourteenth  45 

(7)  Ruth/^7  married  William  Brown,  colledor  of 
the  customs,  at  Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  who  was 
afterwards  appointed,  by  the  British  Government, 
Governor  of  Bermuda. 

(8)  Catharine,^''^  married,  first,  a  Mr.  Stoddard,  and 
afterwards  a  Mr.  Destailleur,  a  surgeon  in  the  British 
army. 


Chapter  XV 

A.D.    1765  to  A.D.    1768 

'Bishop  Edward  Bass^  D.  D.  Dr.  Joshua  Babcock, 
of  Westerly,  Coiofiel  Ha?'ry  Babcock,  Rev.  Henry 
Caner,  D.  D.  <SMajor  Benjamin  Brenton.  'The  Rev. 
yames  Greaton.  The  Rev.  "John  Lyon.  Governor 
George  Brown. 

SEPTEMBER  [1765]  The  Two  Last  Sun- 
days in  this  month  The  Rev'*  Mr.  Bass  of 
Newbury  Preached  In  St.  Paul's,  Narraganset, 
for  Mr.  Fayerweather." 

"Edward  Bass,  D.D.,  was  the  first  Bishop  of  Mas- 
sachusetts. He  was  born  in  Dorchester,  in  1726,  and 
graduated  at  Harvard  in  1744.  In  1752,  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  Episcopal  Parish  at  Newburyport,hewent 
to  England,*"^"  for  orders  and  was  ordained  by  Bishop 
Sherlock. ■*"  In  1 796  he  was  eleded  by  the  Convention 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Churches  of  Massachusetts 
to  the  office  of  Bishop,  and  was  consecrated  May  7, 
1797,  by  the  Bishops  of  Pennsylvania,  New  York  and 
Maryland.  Afterwards  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Rhode 
Island  eledied  him  their  Bishop  and,  in  1803,  a  Con- 
vention of  the  Churches  in  New  Hampshire  put  it- 
self under  his  jurisdidion."  Dr.  Alden  Bradford,^^'  a 
Congregationalist,  in  his  Biographical  Notices^  says: 
"Dr.  Bass*^^^  was  a  good  scholar  and  a  man  of  great 
moral  worth.  In  his  deportment  he  exhibited  much 
mildness  and  benevolence,  as  well  as  charity,  for  those 
of  the  Congregational  order.  He  assumed  no  new 
authority  and  claimed  no  greater  power  after  he  was 
Bishop  than  before,  and  therefore  was  highly  respeded 
in  this  higher  office.  His  character  was  that  of  an  Apos- 
tolic Bishop,  as  described  by  St.  Paul.  He  died  Sep- 
tember 10,  1803." 


chapter  Fifteenth  47 

"December  [1765]  Mr.  Fayerweather  married 
at  Doctor  Babcock's^^^  Captain  Dudley  Salton- 
stall^"  To  his  Daughter  Miss  Frances  Babcock, 
at  Westerly." 

Dr.  Levi  Wheaton/^'*  of  Providence,  has  kindly 
furnished  the  following  memoir,  as  an  affe6lionate  tri- 
bute to  the  memory  of  his  early  friend.  Dr.  Babcock, 
and  of  his  family: 

"You  wish  me  to  furnish  you  with  my  recolleftions 
of  Doctor  Joshua  Babcock  of  Westerly.  It  is  true,  as 
I  once  told  you,  I  lived  with  him  in  1779,  in  the  two- 
fold capacity  of  medical  student  and  preceptor  to  his 
grandchildren.  Being,  then,  eighteen  years  of  age  only 
and  never  for  a  week  absent  from  my  paternal  roof, 
it  was  an  era  in  my  life,  at  which  my  mind  received 
many  novel  and  strong  impressions,  but  such  as  I  little 
thought  of  being  called  upon  to  put  on  paper  after  the 
lapse  of  sixty-five  years.  Yet  I  am  willing  to  contribute 
my  mite  to  your  laudable  endeavours  to  rescue  from 
oblivion  the  names  and  characters  of  those  who  have 
been  conspicuous  in  the  drama,  which  our  little  State 
has  enaded  in  the  successive  stages  of  its  history,  re- 
gretting that  the  negligence  of  our  predecessors  has 
left  you  little  more  than  thegleaningsofwhat  had  been 
a  productive  field.  For  I  believe  no  State  in  the  Union, 
of  twice  its  size,  has  afforded  more  examples  of  the  car- 
dinal virtues,  originality  of  character,  strong  minds,  or 
mother  wit;  but  alas !  *  they  had  no  poet,  and  are  dead.' 

"  Dr.  Babcock,  at  the  time  of  my  intimacy  with  him, 
was  about  seventy-two  years  of  age,  apparently  in  good 
health,  and  of  sound  mind  and  memory.  His  ordinary 
family  was  small,  consisting  only  of  himself,  his  house- 
keeper, and  two  little  grandchildren,  of  eight  or  ten 
years — one,  the  son  o{  Adarn^'^'^  and  the  other  of  his 
deceased  son  huke  Babcock,^^° — so  that  it  fell  to  my 
lot  to  pass  many  hours  with  him  alone.  I  found  his 


48  The  Narragansett  Church 

conversation  always  amusing,  and  often  kindly  in- 
tended for  my  instru^ion.  But  as  I  had  been  misre- 
presented to  him  by  my  college  tutor,  Mr.  Howell,^^^ 
as  one  whose  mind  was  'pregnant,  docile,  and  duftile,' 
he  most  probably  found  his  good  intentions  defeated 
in  resped:  to  the  latter. 

"The  Dodor,  with  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  edu- 
cation, had  mixed  much  with  the  world;  been  in  pub- 
lic life,  and  seen  much  of  the  best  society.  He  was  per- 
sonally well  acquainted  with  most  of  the  leading  men 
of  the  day,  from  New  London  to  Boston,  and  espe- 
cially at  Newport;  which,  within  his  time,  had  rivalled 
New  York  in  population  and  commercial  importance. 
He  abounded  in  anecdote  and  had  a  happy  talent  at 
telling  a  story.  Seated  in  his  'old  arm  chair'  he  would 
be  very  interesting;  had  always  something  to  narrate, 
illustrative  of  the  character  and  events,  customs  and 
manners  of  past  and  present  times.  I  could  easily  fill 
a  sheet  or  two  of  foolscap  with  anecdotes,  which  I  then 
listened  to  with  pleasure,  but  the  charm  of  a  story,  you 
know,  depends  very  much  upon  the  unities,  adion, 
time,  and  place;  besides  some  of  the  best  of  them  might 
touch  blood  which  still  circulates  in  living  veins.  I  re- 
coiled one,  however,  which  may  not  be  liable  to  this 
objedion.  As  you  have  lately  mentioned  Parson  Fayer- 
weather,  as  officiating  at  the  marriage  of  the  Dodor's 
daughter  Frances,  let  it  be  of  him  by  way  of  sample. 
This  gentleman,  it  seems,  was  long  the  Episcopal 
clergyman  at  St.  Paul's,  Narragansett,  and  a  preacher 
more  facetious  than  evangelical.  Having  occasion,  as 
he  thought,  to  reprimand  his  parishioners  for  their 
negligence  in  attending  Church,' You  have  a  thousand 
frivolous  excuses,'  said  he  (naming  several), 'but  there 
is  none  more  common  with  you  than  the  plea  o^ foul 
weather,  but  come  here  and  you  will  always  find  Fair- 
weather.* 

"One  of  the  most  striking  features  of  Dodor  Bab- 


chapter  Fifteenth  49 

cock's  charader  was  his  observance  of  method  in  every- 
thing in  his  business,  his  style  of  living,  amusements, 
or  devotions.  He  was  an  early  riser  and  gave  a  morn- 
ing hour  to  his  farm.  His  breakfast  was  bread  and 
milk,  with  some  apple-pie,  or  fruit  of  the  season,  while 
his  housekeeper  and  1  were  taking  a  cup  of  excellent 
coffee  with  buttered  toast.  He  would  often  rally  us  on 
our  want  of  taste:  'Better  live  as  I  do;'  would  he  say; 
*out  of  this  old  silver  porringer  and  with  this  spoon,  I 
have  taken  my  breakfast  for  forty  years.'  At  dinner, 
and  he  kept  an  excellent  table,  he  ate  heartily,  but  al- 
ways of  one  dish,  be  it  roast  or  boiled,  fish  or  flesh; 
as  he  began,  so  he  ended.  He  took  cider  as  his  com- 
mon beverage,  and  a  temperate  glass  of  good  wine.  At 
tea,  of  which  he  was  very  fond,  he  drank  exadly  three 
cups.  At  a  regular  supper  table,  the  fashion  of  those 
days,  whatever  company  he  might  entertain,  after  due 
attention  to  his  guests,  he  confined  himself  invariably 
to  his  porringer  of  bread  and  milk. 

"At  the  close  ofthe  week,  his  family  were  called  into 
the  sitting-room  to  hear  a  chapter  read  from  the  Bible, 
and  a  prayer.  Observing  at  some  of  these  readings, 
what  I  thought  a  deviation  from  the  common  language 
ofthe  Bible,  I  had  the  curiosity  to  look  into  the  one 
he  made  use  of,  and  found  it  Greek.  To  the  surprise  I 
discovered,  he  replied:  *I  have  always  used  it  since  I 
left  college;  if  I  had  not,  I  should  have  forgotten  the 
language.'  Another  proof  of  his  methodical  habits,  and 
I  might  add,  one  deserving  of  imitation:  The  Dodor 
was  a  professed  Christian,  but  I  do  not  know  that  he 
was  rigidly  se6tarian  in  his  creed.  I  remember  to  have 
found  for  the  first  time,  in  his  library,  Dr.  Samuel 
Clarke's  work  on  the  Trinity,  which  cost  him  a  Bishop- 
ric, and  Dr.  James  Foster's  sermons,  which  lost  him 
fellowship  with  orthodox  Baptists,  and  that  he  ad- 
mired these  sermons  and  often  called  on  me  to  read 
one  of  them — -ergo — but  the  word  Unitarian  was  not 


50  The  Narragansett  Church 

then  in  use.  Waiving  his  religion,  therefore,  suffice  it 
to  say,  that  his  moral  character  was  irreproachable,  and 
he  was  an  honest  man. 

"The  Dod;or  doubtless  loved  money,and  had  been 
successful  in  the  pursuit  of  it;  he  was  rich,  for  that 
day,  in  real  and  personal  estate.  His  minute  attention 
to  trifles  was  systematic  with  him — a  penny  saved  was 
a  penny  got  —  young  and  ^  audax  juventa^ — I  now 
and  then  ventured  to  joke  him  on  what  seemed  to 
me  to  be  a  foible  unworthy  of  him,  but  he  was  always 
ready  with  an  answer  to  my  impertinence,  sometimes 
with  the  grave  remark,  that  he  considered  himself 
doing  the  duty  of  an  accountable  steward  only,  for 
property  committed  to  his  charge;  sometimes  more 
pointedly — '  Ah,  Leevy'  —  as  he  would  call  me — *de- 
spise  not  the  day  of  small  things  (says  the  wise  son 
of  Sirach),  ^^^  for  he  that  despiseth  the  day  of  small 
things  shall  perish  by  little  and  little.'  Yet  with  this 
habitual  attention  to  small  savings,  he  could  bear  the 
accidental  or  irretrievable  loss  of  property  like  a  phi- 
losopher. He  never  cried  for  spilt  milk,  so  that  al- 
though he  had  a  great  deal  of 'the  wisdom  of  this 
world,'  to  use  one  of  his  favourite  expressions,  he  was 
not  parsimonious  as  evinced  by  his  public  spirit,  the 
generous  style  in  which  he  lived  and  his  liberal  hos- 
pitality ;  his  house  was  always  open  to  those  who  had 
any  claims  upon  his  attention,  especially  to  those  who, 
in  those  trying  times,  were  zealous,  or  actively  en- 
gaged, in  the  public  cause. 

"  Do6tor  Babcock  was  the  friend  and  correspond- 
ent of  Dr.  Franklin  (who  was  in  the  habit  of  stopping 
at  his  house  on  his  yearly  visits  to  Boston),  and  a 
patriot  of  his  school.  He  had  many  anecdotes  to  re- 
late of  Franklin,  one,  I  recoiled;,  quite  charadleristic 
of  that  veteran.  Mrs.  Babcock  (who,  by  the  way,  was 
considered  a  very  superior  woman)  asked  the  Dodtor 
if  he  would   have   his   bed  warmed.  'No,  madam, 


chapter  Fifteenth  51 

thank'ee,  but  if  you  will  have  a  little  cold  water 
sprinkled  on  the  sheets  I  have  no  obje6lion.'  In  one 
of  his  letters  written  on  the  eve  of  his  last  departure 
for  Europe,  after  expressing  the  effort  it  cost  him  to 
obey  this  call  of  his  country,  he  added,  'I  am  no 
longer  the  man  I  once  was,  age  has  laid  his  cold  hand 
upon  me,'  an  expression,  the  force  of  which  I  under- 
stand now  better  than  I  did  when  1  read  it  sixty-five 
years  ago. 

"Yes,  the  Do6lor  was  a  zealous  and  enlightened 
patriot,  and  as  liberally  devoted  his  time  and  money 
to  the  cause,  both  in  a  public  and  private  capacity,  as 
a  statesman  or  a  citizen,  as  any  of  his  compatriots.  I 
have  been  credibly  informed,  that  at  a  dark  period  of 
the  war,  when  a  considerable  sum  of  money  in  specie 
was  wanted  for  the  public  service,  he  generously  of- 
fered to  advance  it  upon  the  credit  of  the  State,  abid- 
ing the  issue — an  a6l  which,  in  these  more  enlight- 
ened days,  is  accounted  the  best  evidence  a  man  can 
give  of  his  liberal  devotion  to  Church  or  State. 

"Dr.  Babcock  was  in  person  not  above  the  middle 
size,  of  a  rather  spare  habit — light  and  adive  for  a 
man  of  his  years.  He  could  mount  a  horse  of  sixteen 
hands  high  with  the  agility  of  a  boy,  and  laughed  at 
me  for  going  to  a  horse-block  to  mount  one  of  not 
more  than  fourteen.  In  his  address  and  manners  he 
was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school;  scrupulously  po- 
lite; often  quoted  Chesterfield,  who  was  then  in  his 
zenith ;  and  perhaps  laid  too  much  stress  upon  trifling 
ceremonies — to  eat  cheese  with  bread  and  butter,  or 
to  drink  more  than  three  cups  of  tea,  he  would  consider 
ill-bred.  In  which  notion  he  differed  as  widely  from 
his  contemporary.  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,  as  did  his 
opinion  of  Colonial  rights  from  the  'Taxation  no  Ty- 
ranny of  the  latter. 

"When  I  came  to  him  I  found  him  surrounded  by 
fifteen  or  sixteen  grandchildren,  fine  boys  and  girls. 


52  The  Narragansett  Church 

of  whom  their  grandsire  might  justly  be  as  proud  as 
he  was  solicitous  that  they  should  receive  the  same 
excellent  education  which  he  had  bestowed  upon  his 
own  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  Besides  the  two 
boys  already  mentioned,  there  were  three  or  four 
children  of  his  eldest  son  Harry  ^^^ — about  the  same 
number  of  Mr.  John  Bours,'^^''  of  Newport,  who  mar- 
ried his  elder  daughter — and  of  Commodore  Salton- 
stall,*^"^^  who  married  his  younger.  These  had  found  a 
welcome  retreat  here  from  the  war;  Newport  being 
then  in  the  hands  of  the  British,  and  New  London 
an  exposed  situation,  as  events  soon  afterwards  proved. 
They  were  all,  for  their  several  ages,  well  advanced 
in  their  pupilage,  none  of  them  ABC  Darians.  Peter, 
the  eldest  son  of  Mr.  Bours,  was  a  fine  little  fellow, 
who  at  the  age  often  years  read  Horace  with  facility — 
a  promising  genius,  but  with  the  sad  and  too  frequent 
issue  of  such  promise;  in  less  than  three  years  I  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  his  father  informing  me  of  his 
death.  Of  the  fate  of  the  residue  of  this  interesting 
little  flock  I  am  but  imperfeftly  informed.  I  fear  I 
have  survived  most  of  them. 

"  Mrs.  Saltonstall  was  an  elegant  and  accomplished 
woman.  There  was,  I  remember,  a  well-painted  por- 
trait, a  good  likeness  of  her,  hanging  in  her  father's 
south  parlour  chamber,  which  I  trust  has  been  pre- 
served by  some  of  her  family.  Her  husband.  Commo- 
dore Dudley  Saltonstall,  you  will  recolle6t  as  a  mat- 
ter of  history,  was  naval  commander  in  the  Penobscot 
expedition  which  proved  so  disastrous  this  year.  On 
his  return  to  Boston,  he  was  severely  censured,  as  the 
unfortunate  generally  are.  His  fault,  if  any,  was  a 
want  of  sufficient  promptitude  in  a6tion.  He  was  a 
man  of  sober  thought  and  good  sense,  and  not  defi- 
cient in  personal  courage,  as  was  proved  both  before 
and  after  this  disaster;  but  his  courage  was  not  of  the 
Nelson-dashing,  hell-daring  charadler  which  the  emer- 


^pi^^:^| 

N 

W^^M 

^H:  '':^    :  ~|^H 

^1 

^^^^^^^^^^^H 

^  s 

^^^^^^^^1 

^^K<,';^'|^r "  ^^H 

.J 

JBki-      -  ''^'^^1 

^^^■j^^H 

^^^^^^j^^^^^l 

^^RP 

^n^ 

^■H 

Chapter  Fifteenth  53 

gency  demanded.  I  was  at  his  house  when  he  returned 
—  lately  the  commander  of  thousands,  now  the  solitary 
traveller  on  horseback,  crestfallen.  I  of  course  did  not 
stay  to  witness  the  moving  scene  which  must  have  fol- 
lowed in  such  a  family,  at  such  a  time. 

"The  Dodor's  youngest  son,  Luk:e,^^°was  an  Epis- 
copal clergyman  at  Philipse  Manor  on  the  Hudson, 
where  he  died,  leaving  a  wife  and  several  children. 
Hawkins,  in  his  Historical  Notices  of  the  Missions  of  the 
Church  of  England,  says,  *  Another  vidim  to  ill-treat- 
ment already  mentioned,  was  the  Rev.  Luke  Babcock, 
Missionary  at  Philipsburg.  He  was  seized  by  the  in- 
surgents, his  papers  were  examined,  and  because  he 
answered  affirmatively  to  the  question  whether  he  con- 
sidered himself  bound  by  his  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
King,  he  was  deemed  an  enemy  to  the  liberties  of 
America,  and  ordered  to  be  kept  in  custody.  After  four 
months'  confinement  his  health  gave  way,  and  he  was 
then  dismissed  with  a  written  order  to  remove  within 
the  lines  of  the  King's  army.  "He  got  home,"  says  Mr. 
Seabury,  "with  difficulty,  in  a  raging  fever  and  deliri- 
ous, and  there  died,  extremely  regretted.  Indeed,  I 
knew  not  a  more  excellent  man,  and  I  fear  his  loss, 
especially  in  that  mission,  will  scarcely  be  made  up."  ' 

"  One  of  Dr.  Babcock's  daughters  became  the  wife 
of  Gilbert  Saltonstall,^^^  merchant  in  New  York,  a 
most  worthy  and  respedable  man,  with  whom  I  was 
well  acquainted.  Dr.  Babcock's  excellent  wife  died 
there  whilst  on  a  visit.  His  second  son,  Adam,  was 
long  a  distinguished  merchant  in  Boston,  where  he 
died  not  many  years  since.  His  eldest  son.  Colonel 
Harry  Babcock,^"  was  a  brilliant  and  extraordinary 
man  —  formed  by  nature  and  education  to  be  the  flow- 
er of  his  family,  and  an  ornament  to  the  country  which 
gave  him  birth.  His  biography  —  written  by  one  who 
had  the  requisite  documents,  talents,  and  leisure — 
would  form   a  curious,  interesting,  and  instrudlive 


54         The  Narragansett  Church 

work.  But  I  have  already  extended  my  notes  and  re- 
miniscences to  an  unreasonable  length,  and  must  re- 
turn to  take  leave  of  his  father. 

"Dodor  Babcock  and  his  contemporary,  the  ven- 
erable Samuel  Ward,^^^  were  long  the  two  luminaries 
of  their  town ;  but  their  affedion  for  each  other,  it  ap- 
peared, was  not  quite  as  mutual  as  that  of  the  twins 
of  Leda.  There  was  one  point  of  resemblance,  how- 
ever, between  them  and  these  elder  luminaries — they 
agreed  never  to  be  above  the  horizon  at  the  same  time. 
In  short,  in  local  politics  they  were  rivals.  But  Gov- 
ernor Ward  had  died  at  Philadelphia  in  1776,  whilst 
in  attendance  there  as  oneof  our  first  members  of  Con- 
gress, since  which  the  Do6tor  was 

^  Like  the  last  rose  of  summer^  left  blooming  a  lone. ^ 

A  town  meeting  could  not  be  organized  until  he  ar- 
rived to  take  his  seat  as  Moderator. 

"Such  was  the  consideration  in  which  he  was  held 
when  I  knew  him.  Judge  of  my  feelings  and  reflec- 
tions when,  after  the  lapse  of  a  little  more  than  a  half 
a  century,  upon  a  visit  to  Westerly,  a  few  years  since, 
I  found  the  places  which  knew  him,  did  indeed  know 
him  no  more — that  not  one  of  his  numerous  de- 
scendantswas  living  in  the  town  —  that  I  could  scarcely 
meet  a  person,  who  had  even  a  traditional  knowledge 
that  such  a  man  ever  existed,  and  but  one  who  could 
tell  me  where  he  was  buried.  Three  miles  below  the 
village,  in  a  lonely  and,  I  fear,  unfrequented  spot,  I 
with  some  difficulty  found  his  grave.  The  inscription 
on  the  slab  which  covered  his  ashes  was  so  injured  by 
time  or  the  weather  as  to  be  hardly  legible,  but,  by 
prostrating  myself  on  it  (which  I  did  most  devoutly), 
I  was  able  to  decipher  that  he  died  in  the  spring  of 
the  year  1783 — living  long  enough,  I  trust,  to  en- 
joy the  consummation  of  his  public  wishes,  in  the  ac- 
knowledgement of  freedom  and  independence  to  his 


chapter  Fifteenth  55 

country,  and  to  address  his  Maker  in  the  consecrated 
words,  ^Now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace.'  " 

Mr,  B.  Reynolds  has  transmitted  the  following  in- 
scription from  the  slab  covering  the  grave  of  Dr. 
Babcock: 

THIS  STONE 

COVERS  THE  MORTAL  PART 

OF 

THE  HON.  JOSHUA  BABCOCK,  ^SQ^ 

OF  WESTERLY, 

WHO  DIED  APRIL  I,  178J, 

AGED  75  YEARS. 

HIS  ABILITY  AND  INTEGRITY 

AS  A  STATESMAN, 

IN  THE  DISCHARGE  OF  SEVERAL 

IMPORTANT  OFFICES  OF  TRUST, 

THE  PUBLIC  RECORDS 

OF  HIS  COUNTRY 

TESTIFY, 

AS  DO  ALL  WHO  KNEW  HIM, 

THAT  AS  A  PHYSICIAN, 

HE  WAS  EMINENT 

IN  HIS  PROFESSION; 

AS  A  CHRISTIAN 

EXEMPLARY ; 

AS  A  GENTLEMAN, 

POLITE  AND  ENGAGING  ; 

AS  A  HUSBAND  AND  FATHER, 

A  MASTER  AND  FRIEND, 

WORTHY  OF  IMITATION. 

The  late  Major  Paul  Babcock,  the  son  of  the  late 
Colonel  Harry  Babcock,  has  furnished  the  following 
memoir,  which  is  cheerfully  inserted: 

"Dodtor  Joshua  Babcock  was  born  in  Westerly, 
May  17,  1707.  He  was  graduated  at  Yale  College, 
and  soon  after  commenced  the  study  of  physic  and 
surgery  in  Boston,  and  afterwards  went  to  England 
to  complete  his  education.  He  settled  in  his  native 
town,  where  he  soon  obtained  an  extensive  pra6tice. 
He  soon  after  opened  one  of  the  most  extensive  re- 
tail country  stores  between  New  York  and  Boston. 


56         The  Narragansett  Church 

He  was  likewise  much  in  public  business.  As  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  he  pro- 
nounced the  sentence  of  death  on  the  notorious 
Thomas  Carter,  for  the  murder  of  Jackson. ^'*°  Dr. 
Babcock  had  two  half  brothers  and  three  sons,  who 
were  all  graduated  at  Yale  College.  His  eldest  son, 
the  late  Colonel  Harry  Babcock,  was  born  in  1736: 
he  entered  college  at  twelve  years,  and  took  his  de- 
gree at  sixteen,  at  the  head,  it  is  said,  of  his  class.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen,  he  obtained  from  the  Legislature 
of  this  State  a  charter  for  an  independent  company  of 
infantry,  and  was  appointed  captain.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen,  he  was  appointed  captain  of  a  company  in 
one  of  the  regiments  raised  by  this  Colony,  marched 
to  Albany  and  from  thence  to  Lake  George,  and  joined 
the  army  in  the  campaign  of  1756,  to  dislodge  the 
French  from  Canada.  Sir  William  Johnson,  Com- 
mander-in-chief, detached  four  hundred  men  under 
Colonel  Williams,  to  reconnoitre.  Captain  Babcock, 
with  sixty  men,  constituted  a  part  of  the  corps.  They 
were  attacked  by  the  enemy,  commanded  by  Baron 
D'Eskau,  and  defeated.  Colonel  Williams  was  killed 
and  Captain  Babcock  had  nineteen  men  killed  and 
wounded.  Baron  D'Eskau  was  taken  prisoner. 

"  Next  year,  at  twenty,  Captain  Babcock  was  promo- 
ted to  Major;  at  twenty-one,  to  Lieutenant-Colonel; 
at  twenty-two,  he  commanded  the  Rhode  Island  regi- 
ment, consisting  of  one  thousand  men;  and  in  July, 
1 75  8,  he  marched  five  hundred  of  his  men  with  the  Brit- 
ish army  against  Ticonderoga.  He  had  one  hundred 
and  ten  men  killed  and  wounded,  and  was  wounded 
himself  by  a  musket  ball  in  the  knee.  In  this  attack 
the  British  and  Provincial  army  had  one  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  forty  men  killed  and  wounded.  The  next 
year  he  helped  to  take  the  Fort  under  General  Am- 
herst, without  the  loss  of  a  man.  He  had  then  served 
in  five  campaigns  in  the  old  French  war  with  great 


chapter  Fifteenth  57 

reputation.  About  the  age  of  twenty-five,  Colonel 
Babcock  spent  a  year  in  England,  chiefly  in  London, 
where  he  was  treated  with  as  great  resped;  by  the  no- 
bility and  gentry  as  any  other  American  of  his  time. 
Soon  after  his  return,  he  married  and  settled  in  Ston- 
ington,  Connedicut,  and  began  the  practice  of  the  law. 
When  the  Revolution  commenced,  he  was  a  staunch 
whig;  and  in  1776  he  was  appointed  by  the  Legisla- 
ture commander  of  the  forces  at  Newport.  While  com- 
mander at  this  time,  he  had  but  one  opportunity  to  dis- 
play his  courage.  On  the  open  beach,  with  an  eighteen 
pounder,  he  drove  off  the  British  man-of-war  Rose 
by  his  own  firing.  He  had  pra6lised  as  an  engineer  at 
Woolwich  when  in  England.  He  was  so  severely  af- 
fe6ted  by  a  fit  of  sickness  ^'^^  in  the  winter  following, 
that  he  never  entirely  recovered.  Colonel  Babcock 
was  a  man  of  fine  person,  accomplished  manners,  com- 
manding voice  and  an  eloquent  speaker."  The  late 
Honourable  ElishaR.Potter^^^  said  that  he  heard  Colo- 
nel Babcock  in  an  address  before  the  Legislature  on  an 
application  for  liberty  to  raise  a  regiment  in  behalf  of 
this  State  to  assisttheKingof  France  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Revolution,  as  that  monarch  had  been  the 
friend  of  America,  when  he  drew  tears  from  the  eyes 
of  themembers,  and  that  he  never  heard  a  more  power- 
ful or  eloquent  appeal;  but  the  application  failed. 

Major  Paul  Babcock  who  furnished  the  above,  a 
son  of  Colonel  Harry,  was  in  middle  life  a  man  of 
fine  form,  great  personal  comeliness,  and  of  accom- 
plished manner.  He  died  a  few  years  since.  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Palmer,  of  New  York,^'*^  a  daughter  of  Major 
Paul,  and  a  granddaughter  of  Colonel  Harry,  spent 
the  warm  season  at  the  village  of  Stonington,  a  few 
years  since.  She  was  a  handsome  and  accomplished 
lady  and  impressed  you,  as  she  moved,  that  the  blood 
of  a  distinguished  ancestry  ran  in  her  veins. 

The  family  mansion,  though  dilapidated,  is  still 


58  The  Narragansett  Church 

standing  [1845]  on  the  old  country  road  one  mile 
east  of  Pawcatuck  village,  in  Westerly.  It  is  situated 
on  high  land,  overlooks  the  village  and  Pawcatuck 
River  and  commands  an  extensive  prospe6t.  The  tall 
box  standing  on  each  side  of  the  path  leading  to  the 
house — the  massy  gate — the  once  expensive  fences 
and  enclosures,  now  in  ruins  —  and  other  evidences  of 
departed  grandeur — impress  the  beholder  that  this 
was  one  of  the  plantations  of  the  old  aristocracy  of 
Narragansett. 

There  were,  in  the  Babcock  family,  portraits  of  most 
of  its  members.  The  following  letter  of  June  26, 1 846, 
from  Giles  Babcock,  a  great-grandson  of  Dr.  Joshua 
Babcock,  gives  a  history  of  some  of  them:  "The  por- 
trait of  Colonel  Harry  (now  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Giles 
Ward,  where  my  mother,  the  widow  of  Major  Paul 
Babcock,  recently  deceased),  is  full  length,  or  rather 
three-fourths,  say  to  the  knees — is  taken  in  a  court 
dress,  with  small  sword,  holding  his  chapeau  in  one 
hand.  He  must  have  been  about  twenty  years  of  age; 
and  was,  I  believe,at  the  time,  a  captain  in  the  army.  It 
was  painted  either  in  Boston  or  London,  most  pro- 
bably the  latter.  It  bears  the  artist's  mark — 1756,  hy 
J.  Blackburn.  It  is  a  very  handsome  and  striking  pic- 
ture—  even  now  the  colouring  is  scarcely  faded.  It 
was  always  considered  a  good  likeness.  There  is  also 
a  bust  portrait  of  him,  taken  in  after  life;  also  one  of 
the  Rev.  Luke  Babcock  ;^^°  but  these  were  given  away 
by  my  father  some  years  before  his  death. 

"  Of  the  other  members  of  the  Do6lor  Babcock  fa- 
mily I  know  but  little;  my  father's  memory  was  always 
stored  with  anecdotes  and  reminiscences  of  his  family 
and,  for  a  long  period,  there  were  in  our  family  letters 
and  papers  of  my  grandfather  and  great-grandfather, 
from  which,  if  we  had  them  now,  there  might  be  much 
interesting  matter  culled,  but  they  have  become  scat- 
tered and  lost,  and  with  my  father  have  died  many 


,^y^J^^.  ,J4<^^:*^«»«^  ^^y4^/^a>c^ 


Chapter  Fifteenth  59 

fads  and  particulars  of  his  family  that  his  children,  I 
regret  to  say,  have  no  records  of." 

"April  I  St,  [1766]  Major  Benjamin  Brenton 
Died,  and  Three  Days  after  (which  was  the  4th 
of  April,)  he  was  Buried  on  his  own  Farm.  The 
Burial  Service  was  Performed  By  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Fayerweather,  at  the  Major's  Desire,  Who  in 
his  Sickness  was  Visited  by  Mr.  Fayerweather 
and  Prayed  With." 

Major  Brenton  ^''^  was  a  great-grandson  of  Governor 
Brenton.  Governor  Brenton  was  a  large  landed  pro- 
prietor in  the  Colony.  Jahleel,  the  eldest  son  of  the 
Governor,  inherited  most  of  his  father's  estate,  and 
also  owned  a  large  estate  in  Narragansett.  He  was  the 
first  colle6lor  of  Boston;  afterwards  the  Colony  of 
Rhode  Island  appointed  him  her  agent  in  England, 
and  continued  the  appointment  several  years.  He  was 
then  appointed,  by  the  King,  Surveyor-General  of  the 
customs  for  the  Colonies.  He  died  at  Newport,  in 
1732,  without  Issue. 

"June4"'  [1766]  Mr.  Fayerweather  attended  the 
Convention  of  the  Episcopal  Clergy  and  the 
Rev''  Do6lor  Caner  ^'^^  Preached  in  Kings  Chappel 
Boston  from  these  words  'Follow  me.'  Sunday 
after  Mr.  F.  Preached  for  the  Doftor  and  Bap- 
tized a  Child  in  Kings  Chappel  which  was  Re- 
gistered in  their  Church  Book." 

"Nov.  2,  1766.  Mr.  Fayerweather  preached 
in  Christ  Church,  Cambridge,  and  the  two  Sun- 
days succeeding,  and  the  third  at  Christ  Church, 
Boston,  for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Greaton."''*^ 

"June,  1767.  The  two  last  Sundays  succeeding 
in  this  month,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lyons^'^^and  Mr. 


6o         The  Narragansett  Church 

Fayerweather  exchanged;  he  preached  in  St. 
Paul's,  and  Mr.  F.  in  the  Church  of  Taunton, 
in  the  Province  of  Massachusetts." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  N.  T.  Bent,'^^  Reftor  of  St.  Thomas's 
Church,  Taunton,  in  a  historical  discourse  delivered 
on  Easter  Day,  1844,  says:  "The  first  resident  min- 
ister here  appears  to  have  been  the  Rev.  John  Lyon, 
who  at  the  outset  holds  this  claim  upon  our  gratitude, 
that  he  left  a  fair  and  apparently  a  complete  record  of 
his  official  ad;s.  Others  must  answer  for  its  mutilation. 
We  are  also  indebted  to  some  other  hand  for  an  earlier 
record,  of  baptisms  especially,  of  which  twenty-one  are 
recorded  from  November  30, 1755,  to  April  14,  1764. 
Mr.  Lyon's  first  baptism  was  on  February  6,  1765, 
from  about  which  time — perhaps  a  few  months  earlier 
— his  ministry  here  commenced.  In  April  of  that 
year,  we  find  the  parish  agreeing  with  Mr.  Lyon  as 
their  minister,  for  a  salary  of  twenty  pounds  annually, 
as  long  as  he  should  continue  with  them;  this  proba- 
bly in  addition  to  the  use  of  the  glebe  and  a  stipend 
from  the  Society  in  England.  And,  what  may  be  men- 
tioned to  their  praise,  we  find  the  statement  of  the 
wardens,  that  in  March,  1766,  before  the  expiration  of 
his  first  year,  they  had  settled  with  Mr.  Lyon,  and 
paid  him  his  salary,  'to  his  good  acceptance' — an  ex- 
ample of  promptness,  we  venture  to  say,  which  few 
parishes  in  New  England  have  more  uniformly  imi- 
tated than  this. 

"The  number  of  communicants  in  the  church  in 
1764  was  twelve.  Twenty  were  added  in  1765.  This 
made  the  number  thirty-two.  In  the  same  year,  there 
were  twenty-seven  baptisms  of  children  and  adults.  Tra- 
dition speaks  of  Mr.  Lyon  as  a  most  estimable  man 
and  exemplary  minister  of  Christ.  He  seems  to  have 
been  watchful  over  the  lambs  of  his  flock.  The  num- 
ber of  children  under  catechetical  instruction  in  1765 


chapter  Fifteenth  6i 

was  sixteen.  Confirmations  in  the  absence  of  a  bishop 
could  not  be  administered.  It  appears,  also,  that  Mr. 
Lyon  was  not  regardless  of  the  interests  of  the  com- 
munity in  the  matter  of  sobriety  and  good  morals.  We 
sometimes  accuse  the  ministry  of  that  period  of  in- 
difference to  existing  vices.  Mr.  Lyon,  it  appears  from 
the  record,  distributed  at  one  time  twenty  copies  of  a 
book  or  trad:  entitled,  Admonition  to  the  Drinkers  of 
Spirituous  Liquors — one  evidence,  at  least,  of  a  min- 
ister's labouring  to  make  men  temperate,  and  that  too 
in  his  own  appointed  sphere,  eighty  years  ago.  Who 
shall  say  that  such  labours  were  in  vain,  however  much 
they  left  to  be  done  by  those  who  shall  come  after? 
The  loss  of  records  forbids  me  to  say  how  long  Mr. 
Lyon's  ministry  continued.  He  left  some  time  before 
the  Revolution,  it  is  believed,  and  went  to  Virginia, 
where  he  died." 

"April  the  24""  [1768]  Immediately  after  Di- 
vine Service  Mr.  Fayerweather  Proceeded  for 
home,  and  went  With  all  Speed  from  thence  To 
Point  Judith  and  married  George  Browne,^'*^  to 
Miss  Hannah  Robinson,  at  her  father  William 
Robinson's,^"*^  in  Presence  of  Many." 

George  Brown  was  a  son  of  Robert  and  grandson 
of  William  Brown.  The  family  emigrated  from  Glas- 
gow, in  Scotland,  and  settled  in  South  Kingstown.  His 
uncle,  Thomas  Brown,  devised  him  a  large  estate,  in 
addition  to  the  estate  inherited  from  his  father.  Wil- 
liam Brown,  his  grandfather,  married  a  sister  of  Gov- 
ernor Robinson.  Governor  Brown's  wife  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Robinson  and  granddaughter  of  Gov- 
ernor Robinson.  Mr.  Brown  and  his  wife  were  first  and 
second  cousins.  Governor  Brown  was,  for  many  years, 
a  representative  in  the  General  Assembly;  in  1796  he 
was  eleded  by  the  Legislature  second  Justice  on  the 


62  The  Narragansett  Church 

bench  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  and  held  the 
office  until  1799,  when  he  was  ele6led  by  the  people 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  State,  over  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Samuel  J.  Potter,^^°  after  a  severe  and  close 
canvass.  This  vote  drew  the  lines  in  this  State  between 
the  two  great  political  parties  of  the  country  —  the  Fed- 
eralists under  Mr.  Adams,  and  the  Democrats  under 
Mr.  Jeffisrson.  Governor  Potter,the  Republican — now 
styled  Democratic — candidate,  succeeded  over  Gov- 
ernor Brown  in  1 800 ;  and,  in  1 80 1 ,  this  State  became 
Republican,  and  continued  so  until  the  war  of  18 12. 
Governor  Brown  was  a  courteous  and  amiable  gen- 
tleman, an  exemplary  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  a  liberal  contributor  to  its  support.  He 
sustained  an  irreproachable  character  through  life,  and 
died  January  0,0,  1 836,  in  the  ninety-first  year  of  his 
age,  and  was  buried  in  the  church-yard  at  Tower  Hill. 
He  left  nine  children. 


Chapter  XVI 

A.D.  I769-I77O 

T'he  'Tweedy  Family.  The  Hazard  Family.  'John 
Gardiner^  of  Boston  Neck.  John  Case,  of  Tower  Hill. 
''''George  Rome,  Esq.,  a  Gentleman  of  Estate.'' 

JULY  28'''  [1769]  On  Friday  Evening  Mr. 
Fayerweather  Married  his  Brother  In  Law 
George  Hazard  Esq  To  Miss  Jane  Tweedy  ^^'  at 
the  Parsonage  house  Narragansett  After  3  Dis- 
tinct Publications  In  the  Church  of  Newport." 

The  Hazards  are  a  numerous  family  —  the  most  so 
in  Narragansett,  if  not  in  the  State.  Watson,  in  the 
Historic  'Tales  of  Olden  Time,  says,  "  Mrs.  Maria  Haz- 
ard,^^^  of  South  Kingstown,  Rhode  Island,  and  mo- 
ther of  the  Governor,  died  in  1739,  at  the  age  of  one 
hundred  years  and  could  count  up  five  hundred  chil- 
dren, grandchildren,  great-grandchildren,  and  great- 
great-grandchildren —  two  hundred  and  five  of  them 
being  then  alive.  A  granddaughter  of  hers  had  already 
been  a  grandmother  fifteen  years!  Probably  this  in- 
stance of  Rhode  Island  fruitfulness  may  match  against 
the  world." 

They  have  descended  from  Thomas  Hazard,^"  who 
emigrated  from  Wales  about  the  year  1639,  to  the 
Jerseys,  and  from  thence  to  Rhode  Island, and  settled 
in  Portsmouth  in  1 640.  His  son,  Robert,^^'*  at  that  time 
about  four  years  old,  came  with  him.  Robert  was  the 
only  son  that  came  over  with  him,  as  far  as  can  be  as- 
certained. The  eldest  son  of  Robert  was  Thomas  Haz- 
ard,''^" who  died  in  1 746,  aged  eighty-six.  His  sons  were : 
Robert,  Thomas,  Stephen,  Jeremiah,  George,  Ben- 
jamin,and  Jonathan.  From  these  sons, a  numerous  is- 
sue has  descended,  embracingmany  distinguished  men. 


64         The  Narragansett  Church 

George  Hazard/"  mentioned  above  in  the  Record, 
was  a  son  of  George,  who  was  Deputy-Governor  of  the 
Colony  ^*^^  in  the  years  1734-5-6-7-8,  and  great-grand- 
son of  the  first  settler.  He  lived  and  died  in  South 
Kingstown.  George,  the  younger,  early  settled  in  New- 
port as  a  merchant,  and  was  eleded  a  representative 
to  the  General  Assembly  from  that  town  for  many 
years.  He  was  the  only  Mayor  of  Newport  under  the 
first  city  charter,  and  held  other  honourable  and  re- 
sponsible offices  in  the  State.  He  died  at  Newport  aged 
seventy-three  years.  The  following  is  extrafted  from 
the  Newport  Mercury :  "  Died  in  this  town  on  Friday, 
August  1 1,  '^"J^'Jy  George  Hazard,  Esquire,  for  many 
years  a  respectable  merchant;  for  upwards  of  thirty 
years  a  representative  from  this  town  in  the  Legisla- 
ture; for  twelve  years  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  for  this  County ;  a  member  of  the  Con- 
vention which  adopted  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States;  and  formerly  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Newport." 
He  was  baptized  in  the  church  at  Newport,  in  1750. 

Edward  Hazard,^^^  eldest  son  of  Mayor  George 
Hazard,  married  Sarah  Cranston,  a  daughter  of  the 
Honourable  Thomas  Cranston,^^^  a  grandson  of  Gov- 
ernor Samuel  Cranston,  in  May,  1770,  and  settled 
in  South  Kingstown  on  a  farm  given  him  by  his  fa- 
ther. (The  Honourable  Thomas  Cranston  and  Abra- 
ham Redwood,  the  founder  of  the  Redwood  Library, 
married  sisters. ^^^  Three  full-length  portraits  of  Mr. 
Cranston, his  wife,  and  daughter,^"  painted  by  Copley, 
are  hanging  in  my  house  at  Kingston.)  Thomas  Cran- 
ston Hazard,"^  only  son  and  child  of  Edward,  grad- 
uated from  Rhode  Island  College,  now  Brown  Univer- 
sity, in  1792,  and  is  now  [i  846]  living  at  Voluntown, 
Connecticut.  [He  died  in  1850.] 

Nathaniel  Hazard,^^'  fourth  son  of  Mayor  George, 
graduated  from  Rhode  Island  College  in  1792.  He 
was  a  representative  in  the  General  Assembly  for  sev- 


<L,-^^«^^«^«Si»i>e/o^Z5«<S??^«!^'«?«5»<^ 


chapter  Sixteenth  65 

eral  years,  and  was  Speaker  of  the  House.  In  1818,  he 
was  eleded  Representative  to  Congress.  He  died  at 
Washington  in  1820,  and  was  interred  in  the  Con- 
gressional burying-ground. 

Thomas  H azard  ("  College  Tom  ")  ^^^  was  a  descen- 
dant of  the  first  settler  in  the  fifth  degree.  He  entered 
college,  but,  having  been  early  indoftrinated  in  the  faith 
of  the  Quakers,  he  became  conscientious  respefting 
collegiate  honours,  and  left  the  institution  before  the 
regular  period  of  conferring  degrees.  He  married  Eliz- 
abeth, a  daughter  of  Governor  Robinson,^^*^  and  set- 
tled on  his  farm  in  his  native  town  of  South  Kings- 
town, near  Tower  Hill,  where  John  Nichols  now  re- 
sides. Mr.  Hazard  was  comely  in  person,  large  in  sta- 
ture, six  feet,  and  of  great  physical  strength.  ^^^  He  was 
a  preacher  of  the  Society  of  Friends  for  forty  years  be- 
fore his  death,  and  tradition  speaks  of  him  as  a  strong, 
forcible,  and  argumentative  speaker.  He  was  deserv- 
edly popular  in  his  denomination,  and  was  the  first 
in  his  Society  that  advocated  the  abolition  of  negro 
slavery,  and  travelled  much  as  a  public  Friend,  preach- 
ing the  do6lrine  of  emancipation  among  his  brethren. 
The  following  is  transcribed  from  a  communication 
made  to  me  by  Mr.  Isaac  P.  Hazard,^^^  his  grandson: 

"You  requested  me  to  state  what  I  knew  respe6ting 
the  very  a6live  part  which  my  grandfather  was  the  first 
to  take  in  the  abolition  of  negro  slavery  in  this  State, 
and  I  will  endeavour  to  give  it  to  you  as  I  have  heard  it 
frommy  fatherandothers.  Aboutthe  time  of  my  grand- 
father's marriage  (he  having  chosen  agriculture  for  his 
profession  in  preference  to  the  law,  for  which  his  fa- 
ther had  designed  him),  it  was  the  intention  of  his 
father  to  establish  him  on  a  farm  befitting  what  he 
considered  his  station  in  life — a  large  trad:  of  good 
land,  well  stocked  with  cattle,  and  with  negroes  enough 
to  cultivate  it.  With  this  view  he  gave  him  an  introduc- 
tion by  letter  to  an  old  acquaintance  of  his,  in  North 


66         The  Narragansett  Church 

Stonington,Conne6licut,  a  worthy  deacon  of  the  Pres- 
byterian or  Baptist  Church,  I  forget  which,  whom  he 
was  accustomed  to  employ  in  purchasing  stock,  and 
in  whom  he  placed  great  confidence,  requesting  his 
aid  in  selecting  and  purchasing  for  his  son.  My  grand- 
father arrived  at  the  village,  near  where  his  stock  pur- 
chasing was  to  begin,  on  Saturday  afternoon,  and,  not 
wishing  to  interfere  with  the  very  strict  rules  then  ob- 
served in  that  State  in  regard  to  the  Sabbath,  had  in- 
tended to  remain  at  thepublic  inn  until  Monday  morn- 
ing, and  then  present  his  letters  and  proceed  to  busi- 
ness. But  the  old  Deacon  chanced  to  visit  the  village 
that  afternoon,  and,  finding  the  son  of  his  friend  there, 
insisted  on  his  returning  home  and  spending  the  Sab- 
bath with  him, — a  plan  which  was  complied  with. 
Among  the  topics  of  conversation  during  the  evening 
was  that  of  religion,  of  which,  at  that  period,  Connecti- 
cut gave  Rhode  Island  credit  for  possessing  a  very 
small  share,  and  that  not  very  orthodox. 

"Indiscussing  the  merits  of  various  se6ls,  my  grand- 
father mentioned  Quakers,  who  were  among  the  set- 
tlers of  this  country, — numbers,  like  his  family,  though 
not  belonging  strictly  to  that  Society,  yet  attending 
their  meetings,  when  attending  any,  —  and  he  being 
about  to  marry  one  of  that  seft,  which  (as  was  the  case), 
if  married  in  the  meeting  according  to  the  form  of  the 
Society,  would  give  him  the  right  of  membership,  he 
doubtless  considered  himself  as  identified  with  them. 
In  reply  to  his  mentioning  Quakerism,  the  old  Deacon 
observed : '  Quakers !  they  are  not  a  Christian  people ! ' 
As  my  grandfather  was  just  from  Yale  College  and,  be- 
ing remarkable  for  the  strength  of  his  argumentative 
powers,  had  paid  some  attention  to  Divinity,  he  be- 
lieved he  could  answer  all  the  obje6lions  which  their 
persecutors  urged  against  them  in  Europe,  in  a  man- 
ner that  would  fully  confute  his  antagonist,  and  satisfy 
him  of  the  error  of  his  views.  He  asked  him  to  state 


chapter  Sixteenth  67 

his  objedlions,  expefting  they  would  be  those  hereto- 
fore used  by  the  various  controversial  writers  of  that 
age  of  religious  controversy,  and  with  which  he  was 
familiar.  But  to  his  surprise  he  answered:  'They  hold 
their  fellow-men  in  slavery.'  At  this  time  the  Quakers, 
although  holding  many  testimonies  against  the  errors 
of  the  age,  differing  from  and  in  advance  of  most  Chris- 
tian denominations,  many  and  most  of  which  have 
since  been  adopted,  seem  seldom  to  have  turned  their 
attention  to  the  subjedl;  of  slavery,  and  were  among 
the  greatest  slave-holders  of  the  country. 

"My  grandfather's  mind  had  once  (if  not  oftener) 
been  turned  to  the  subject,  when  direded  by  his  father 
to  oversee  some  slaves  at  their  labour  on  a  very  hot  day. 
He  took  a  book  and  sat  under  the  shade  of  a  tree,  but, 
from  the  extreme  heat,  he  could  not  even  in  that  situa- 
tion keep  comfortably  cool.  This  led  him,  while  the 
labourers  were  toiling  in  the  heat,  to  contrast  slavery 
with  freedom,  and  probably  prepared  his  mind  to  em- 
brace the  old  Deacon's  views.  Looking  therefore  at 
this  unexpected  position  of  the  argument,  he  consid- 
ered his  ground  untenable;  gave  up  the  defence  of  his 
Society,  and  changed  the  subjed:  of  conversation,  soon 
from  his  own  reflexions  becoming  thoroughly  con- 
vinced of  the  error  of  holding  slaves, — a  view  which 
he  communicated  to  his  father  after  his  return,  signi- 
fying to  him  his  intention  of  cultivating  his  farm  by 
free  labour.  His  father  at  that  time  being  the  largest 
farmer,  and  one  of  the  largest  slave-holders,  in  New 
England,  and  considering  that  his  son's  view,  if  per- 
sisted in,  would  greatly  injure,  if  not  ruin  himself  and 
neighbours,  endeavoured  to  dissuade  him  from  it,  but 
finding  him  determined,  threatened  to  disinherit  him, 
if  he  persisted.  The  subjed:  occasioned  a  coolness  be- 
tween them  for  some  time.  The  son  persevered,  how- 
ever, in  what  he  believed  to  be  his  duty,  expeding 
from  the  firm  and  unchangeable  charader  of  his  father 


68  The  Narragansett  Church 

and  family  to  be  disinherited.  He  began  cultivating 
his  farm  with  free  labour,  and  laboured  himself  in  the 
cause  of  negro  emancipation. 

"  His  first  objedl  was  to  get  the  religious  Society  of 
Friends,  or  Quakers,  of  which  he  became  an  a6live, 
zealous,  and  efficient  member,  to  embody,  in  their  dis- 
cipline, a  clause  prohibiting  its  members  from  holding, 
or  dealing  in,  slaves.  Although  the  Society  had  already, 
sometime  previously,  abolished  among  its  members 
the  practice  of  branding  their  slaves  with  a  hot  iron  to 
distinguish  them,  having,  after  several  years'  discus- 
sion, pronounced  it  cruel  and  unchristianlike  (which  I 
allude  to  as  showing  the  state  of  the  human  mind  then 
existing  on  the  subje6t),  it  was  not  without  much  labour 
that  they  were  induced  to  make  it  a  part  of  their  disci- 
pline, that  the  members  should  neither  hold  nor  deal 
in  slaves.  He  visited  various  parts  of  New  England 
and  New  York,  in  promulgating  his  views  on  that  sub- 
jed:,  and  was  finally  successful.  At  about  the  same 
time,  John  Woolman,^^^  of  Mount  Holly,  New  Jersey, 
whose  life  and  chara6lerwere  noble  examples  of  Chris- 
tian benevolence  and  purity,  was  engaged  in  the  same 
enterprise  in  the  Middle  States, and  visited  this  neigh- 
bourhood, a  mutual  friendship  existing  between  them 
during  their  lives.  The  late  venerable  Moses  Brown ^^° 
was  one  of  the  most  active, zealous,  and  efficient  assist- 
ants, not  only  among  the  Society  of  Friends,  but  in 
aiding  him  to  procure  the  passage  of  a  law  by  the  Legis- 
lature, terminating  the  existence  of  slavery  in  Rhode 
Island.  Mr.  Hazard  lived  to  see  this  accomplished,  as 
well  as  a  reconciliation  to  his  father,  who  showed  the 
convincement  of  his  son's  views,  by  leaving  in  his  will 
(previously  to  the  law  before  alluded  to),  all  his  slaves 
free  at  his  death,  and  his  property  to  his  four  chil- 
dren, without  the  distindion  he  had  threatened. 

"I  have  dwelt  particularly  on  this  abolition  subjedl, 
not  only  because  you  requested  it,  as  the  first  active 


chapter  Sixteenth  69 

abolition  movement  in  New  England,  but  as  an  im- 
portant era  in  our  history,  and  the  commencement,  or 
cause,  of  an  entire  change  of  the  state  of  society  in  this 
country.  Up  to  this  period,  and  sometime  after  it,  Nar- 
ragansett  was  a  seat  of  hospitaHty  and  refinement; 
her  large  landed  proprietors  living  in  ease  and  luxury, 
visited  by  the  elite  from  all  parts  of  the  then  British 
American  Colonies,  and  by  distinguished  strangers  of 
Europe. 

"It  also  puts  in  a  proper  light  a  trait  of  my  grand- 
father's character,  which  he  was  supposed  generally 
to  possess, — that  of  never  changing  his  opinions,  or 
first  views  on  any  subjed:.  An  old  friend  and  neigh- 
bour of  the  family  (the  late  Andrew  Nichols),  who  had 
known  him  all  his  life  and  who  died  but  a  few  years 
since,  one  day  observed  to  me :  '  It  is  fortunate  for  so- 
ciety, that  your  grandfather  always  saw  corredlly  at  first 
view,  for  I  believe  he  was  never  known  to  change  his 
opinion  on  any  subjed,  and  such  was  the  power  of 
his  reasoning  faculties,  that,  had  he  taken  the  wrong 
side,  he  could  probably  have  made  it  appear  the  right, 
and,  if  he  could  not  have  convinced  others,  he  could 
have  so  forcibly  answered  their  arguments,  as  to  have 
silenced  them.  I  never  knew,  or  heard,  in  my  life,  (he 
continued)  of  his  giving  anything  up  and  he  always 
appeared  to  have  seen  the  right  of  the  case  at  first.' 
Mr.  Nichols  was  too  young  to  have  known  him  be- 
fore he  commenced  his  abolition  dodrines,or  he  would 
have  known  that  he  changed  his  views  once  at  least.  I 
have  understood  that  he  was  never  severe  in  his  de- 
nunciation of  slave-holding — being  a  participator  in 
the  fruits  of  slave-holding  himself  until  convinced  of 
his  error — and  that  he  laboured  to  convince  others 
with  mildness  and  sound  argument,  in  which  he  was 
eminently  successful,  having  the  satisfadion  of  seeing 
his  views  established  throughout  New  England  and 
most  of  the  Middle  States  before  his  death. 


70         The  Narragansett  Church 

"In  connexion  with  this  important  subjed  of  abo- 
lition, there  is  another  individual  whose  name  is  now 
scarcely  known  and  recolleded  by  any  out  of  our  fa- 
mily, butone  whom  my  grandfatherand  some  of  hisde- 
scendants  have  been  accustomed  to  place  highest  on 
the  list  of  disinterested  (if  that  term  will  here  apply) 
philanthropists  in  that  cause.  This  was  Jeremiah  Aus- 
tin,^^'  who,  a  little  before  the  subjedl  was  discussed,  as 
before  stated,  found  himself,  after  the  death  of  his  fa- 
ther, the  owner  of  a  single  slave,  his  sole  inheritance, 
whom,  from  a  belief  that  it  was  unjust  to  hold  slaves, 
he  freed,  having  to  work  himself  as  a  daily  labourer. 
Probably  from  a  similarity  of  views,  Mr.  Austin  was 
afterwards  engaged  by  my  grandfather  as  overseer,  or 
manager  of  his  farm. 

"In  person,  my  grandfather  was  large,  fully  six  feet 
high,  weighing  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  and 
of  great  strength,  both  of  body  and  mind.  The  late 
William  T.  Robinson,'^'^^  of  New  York,  once  told  me 
that  his  whole  appearance  and  deportment  came  the 
nearest  to  the  standard  of  a  truly  noble  man,  according 
to  his  conception,  of  any  person  he  had  ever  met 
with.  Your  brother,  Daniel  Updike,^^°  of  East  Green- 
wich, once,  in  speaking  of  the  degeneracy  of  the  old 
Narragansett  race,  observed  that,  although  our  fa- 
mily had  kept  up  the  standard  as  well  as  any,  yet  we 
were  as  far  below  that  of  our  ancestors  both  in  body 
and  mind,  as  those  who  had  depreciated  most  were 
below  us.  He  was  fond  of  society,  and  very  hospita- 
ble, and  generally  had  more  or  less  guests  staying  at  his 
house  through  the  summer." 

He  died  at  South  Kingstown,  August  26,  1798, 
aged  about  seventy-eight.  The  present  Isaac  P.,^^^ 
Thomas  R.,''^  Rowland  G.,''^  and  Joseph  P.  Haz- 
ard,*^^^  sons  of  the  late  Rowland  Hazard,^^  are  his 
grandchildren. 

Thomas  Hazard  ("Virginia  Tom"^^'')  was  a  descen- 


chapter  Sixteenth  71 

dant,  in  the  fifth  degree,  from  the  common  ancestor. 
He  was  a  merchant  in  Newport  for  many  years,  and  ac- 
quired a  large  estate.  His  first  wife  was  a  Bowdoin,^^°'' 
of  a  branch  of  the  Boston  family ;  his  second  wife  was 
Eunice  Rhodes,^*"^  of  Pawtuxet,  Rhode  Island.  In  the 
Revolution,  Mr.  Hazard  adhered  to  the  cause  of  the 
Crown,  and  fled  to  the  enemy,  his  estates  being  seized 
and  subsequently  confiscated.  The  great  destitution  to 
which  his  family  was  reduced  by  this  unfortunate  elec- 
tion is  very  expressively  described  in  a  petition  to  the 
General  Assembly,  in  1782. 

"Mrs.  Eunice  Hazard,  of  Cranston,  represents  that 
she  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Hazard,  late  of  Narragan- 
sett,  now  a  refugee  in  New  York ;  that  the  said  Thomas 
Hazard  left  her  three  years  ago  in  a  condition  almost 
helpless,  with  seven  young  children,  one  of  them  at 
the  breast,  and  the  rest  unable  to  subsist  themselves; 
and  that,  from  that  time  to  this,  she  has  encountered 
many  difficulties  in  bringing  up  and  supporting  the 
said  children;  and  she  hath  at  length  exhausted  all 
the  resources  in  her  power,  and  expended  not  only 
what  remained  in  her  hands  of  her  said  husband's  ef- 
fe6ls,  but  also  nearly  the  whole  of  what  came  to  her 
particular  use  from  the  estate  of  her  late  honoured 
father;  and  thereupon  prayed  this  Assembly  to  take 
her  unhappy  case  in  consideration,  and  extend  to  her 
and  her  children  such  grace  and  favour  as  may  seem 
meet;  and  in  particular  to  grant  her  the  house  and 
lot  of  land  lying  in  Newport  which  was  her  husband's 
late  estate."  In  consequence  of  this  plaintive  repre- 
sentation, the  General  Assembly  humanely  directed 
the  rents  of  said  property  to  be  paid  to  her.^^^ 

After  the  war,  Mr.  Hazard  returned  to  this  State, 
and  the  General  Assembly,  through  the  influence  of 
his  brother,  Jonathan  J.  Hazard,^^°a  leading  whig, 
were  inclined  to  restore  his  estates  if  a  satisfaftory 
submission  should  be  made.  This  he  indignantly  re- 


72  The  Narragansett  Church 

fused,  and  the  confiscation  was  consummated.  In  1785, 
Mr.  Hazard  repaired  to  England,  and  the  British 
Government,  for  his  loyalty,  sacrifices,  and  sufferings, 
besides  other  remuneration,  granted  him  a  large  tra6l 
of  land  at  St.  John's.^'"  In  1786,  he  embarked  for  his 
new  residence,  with  his  wife  and  all  his  children,  ex- 
cept those  who  had  previously  married  and  settled  in 
Rhode  Island.  In  a  letter  to  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Walter 
Watson,^''^  of  South  Kingstown,  he  says:  "  I  have  got 
five  thousand  acres  of  land  from  Government,  and  am 
to  settle  it  in  one  year,  or  give  up  that  which  will  not  be 
settled  on.  I  have  for  you,  if  your  husband  will  come 
and  settle  on  it,  five  hundred  acres  of  good  land  that 
lies  on  a  harbour,  where  you  can  catch  plenty  of  all 
kinds  of  fish,  and  there  are  good  timber  and  hay  on  it. 
If  you  do  not  come  or  send  and  settle  on  it  this  sum- 
mer, you  cannot  have  it  in  the  same  place." 

Mr.  Hazard  died  at  St.  John's,  in  April,  1804,  at 
an  advanced  age.  Mr.  Elisha  Watson  ^^^  married  Ann 
Cole,^74and  Mr.  Wilkins  Updike  married  Abby  Wat- 
son,''^5' ''^°'' two  of  his  granddaughters. 

Jonathan  J.  Hazard  was  a  descendant,  in  the  fifth 
degree,  from  Thomas,^"  the  first  settler.  He  took  an 
early  and  decided  stand  in  favour  of  liberty  in  the 
Revolutionary  struggle.  In  1776,  he  appeared  in  the 
General  Assembly  as  a  representative  from  Charles- 
town,  was  eleded  paymaster  of  the  Continental  Bat- 
talion in  1777,  and  joined  the  army  in  New  Jersey. 
In  1778  he  was  reeledted  a  member  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  constituted  one  of  the  Council  of  War. 
He  continued  a  member  of  the  House  most  of  the 
time  during  the  Revolution.  In  1787,  he  was  eledled 
by  the  people  a  delegate  to  the  Confederated  Con- 
gress. In  1788,  he  was  reele6led,and  attended  the  old 
Congress  as  a  delegate  from  this  State. 

Mr.  Hazard  was  a  politician  of  great  tadl  and  talent, 


if^'^rz 


chapter  Sixteenth  73 

and  one  of  the  most  efficient  leaders  of  the  Paper 
Money  party,  in  1786,  and  their  ablest  debater  in  the 
General  Assembly.  He  beat  down  the  opposition 
raised  by  the  Hard  Money  or  mercantile  party.  He 
feelingly  depided  the  lowering  distress  of  the  times 
produced  by  the  avaricious  course  of  the  mercantile 
party.  He  represented  that,  prompted  by  exorbitant 
profits,  they  had  shipped  to  England,  our  late  enemy, 
all  the  remaining  specie  that  could  be  obtained,  to  sup- 
ply the  country  with  fabrics  which  the  war  had  ex- 
hausted; that  the  patriotism  of  the  mercantile  party 
was  swallowed  up  by  the  lust  of  profit,  that  the  in- 
terest of  money  by  these  selfish  and  avaricious  spec- 
ulations had  risen  to  twenty  per  cent,  per  annum,  and, 
in  some  cases,  to  fourper  cent,  per  month;  and  that  the 
paper  money  emission  was  the  only  measure  of  state 
policy  to  prevent  civil  commotion.  He  argued,  like- 
wise, in  favour  of  the  safety  of  the  emission ;  that  it  was 
guaranteed  by  land  security ;  that  it  was  to  be  loaned 
on  bondandmortgage  of  twice  the  value  of  the  amount 
borrowed,  to  be  estimated  by  a  committee  under  oath ; 
that  it  was  an  emission  widely  different  from  that  of 
the  states,  being  founded  on  real  estate;  that,  as  long 
as  the  real  estate  remained,  the  money  must  retain  its 
value,  no  bank  being  more  secure;  that  the  public  were 
alarmed  without  reason;  and  that  the  opposition  were 
governed  by  avarice  and  prejudice. 

Mr.  Hazard  was  the  leader  of  the  same  party  un- 
der the  name  of  the  Anti-Federalists,  and  a  fiery  op- 
ponent of  the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution. 
As  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  assembled  at  South 
Kingstown,  in  March,  1790,  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  adoption  of  that  instrument,  he  successfully 
resisted  the  measure,  and,  upon  an  informal  vote,  it 
was  ascertained  that  there  was  a  majority  of  seventeen 
against  its  adoption.  Upon  this  event,  the  popular 
party  chaired  Mr.  Hazard,  their  leader.  The  friends 


74         The  Narragansett  Church 

of  the  Constitution,  however,  obtained  an  adjourn- 
ment to  meet  at  Newport  in  the  May  following.  In 
the  meantime,  all  the  influence  and  wealth  of  the 
State  were  brought  to  bear  upon  the  members  of  the 
Convention,  and  whether  Mr.  Hazard  was  a6lually 
influenced  by  other  means  than  convidlion  cannot  be 
ascertained,  but  his  opposition  became  neutralized, 
and  the  Constitution  was  adopted  by  a  bare  majority 
of  one  5^^  (some  say  two),  but  the  original  paper  upon 
which  the  yeas  and  nays  were  minuted  gives  the  ma- 
jority ofonlyone.The  defeftion  of  Mr.  Hazard,upon 
a  question  of  this  magnitude,  and  in  relation  to  which 
his  party  confided  in  his  integrity,  shook  the  confi- 
dence of  the  public  and  his  party,  and  he  fell  in  popu- 
lar estimation,  and  never  regained  his  former  elevated 
position.  He  was  subsequently  a  representative  in  the 
General  Assembly,  but  his  influence  was  so  greatly 
impaired  by  this  defedion  in  the  Convention,  that  he 
never  could  reestablish  himself  in  the  good  opinion 
of  his  party  or  the  people. 

Mr.  Hazard  was  well-formed,  sturdy  in  body  and 
mind,  with  a  fine  phrenological  development  of  head. 
He  was  a  natural  orator,  with  a  ready  command  of 
language,  subtle  and  ingenious  in  debate.  He  suc- 
cessfully contended  against  Marchant,"^  Bradford,^^^ 
and  Welcome  Arnold,^''^  the  debaters  of  the  House  at 
that  period.  He  was,  for  a  long  time,  the  idol  of  the 
country  interest,  manager  of  the  State,  leader  of  the 
Legislature,  in  fadl,  the  political  didlator  in  Rhode  Is- 
land; but  his  course  in  the  Constitutional  Convention 
was  the  cause  of  his  political  ruin.  It  was  a  Wolsey's 
fall,  to  rise  no  more.^"The  late  Honourable  Elisha  R. 
Potter,^''^  and  the  late  Honourable  Benjamin  Haz- 
ard,'*''^ who  knew  Mr.  Hazard  in  the  zenith  of  his 
political  influence,  always  spoke  of  him  as  a  man  of 
great  natural  power  and  sagacity.  He  removed  to  New 
York  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  purchased  a  valu- 


Chapter  Sixteenth  75 

able  estate,  and  settled  his  children  there.  He  occa- 
sionally visited  Rhode  Island  and  died  at  an  advanced 
age. 

Jeffrey  Hazard,^^^  of  Exeter,  was  a  descendant  from 
Thomas,  the  common  ancestor,  in  the  sixth  degree. 
He  was  for  many  years  representative  in  the  General 
Assembly,  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  the  State.  Three  of  the  Hazard  family  ^^^ 

■  have  been  Lieutenant-Governors  of  Rhode  Island. 
The  late  Commodore  Oliver  Hazard  Perry^''^  was  a 
descendant  of  Thomas  Hazard,  the  first  settler,  in  the 
seventh  degree.  Christopher  Raymond,  father  of  the 
Commodore,  was  a  son  of  Judge  Freeman  Perry,  who 
married  Mercy,  a  daughter  of  Oliver  Hazard,^^°  of 

•South  Kingstown.  The  Commodore  was  named  after 
his  maternal  great-grandfather,  Oliver  Hazard. 

"[July]  7^'  [1770]  On  Saturday  Died  John  Gar- 
diner Esq  of  Boston  Neck,  And  on  Sunday  8"" 
the  Next  Day  Was  Decently  Buried  In  the 
Churchyard  of  St  Pauls,  On  Which  Occasion 
The  Corps  Was  Carried  Into  St  Pauls  Church 
And  a  Funeral  Sermon  Preached  There  By  Mr  F 
The  Reftor  To  a  Full  and  Serious  Congrega- 
tion." 

Mr.  John  Gardiner  ^^^  was  a  son  of  William  Gar- 
diner,''"^'"""^  a  descendant  of  the  first  settler,  of  the  name, 
in  Narragansett,  was  a  brother  of  Dr.  Sylvester  Gar- 
diner,"^  of  Boston,  and  a  brother-in-law  of  Dr.  Mac- 
Sparran.  He  died  on  the  homestead  farm^^°  of  his  an- 
cestors. His  first  wife  was  Mary  Hill,^°^  who  left  three 
children:  Anstis,^°^  wife  of  Rowland  Robinson,^'''*  fa- 
ther of"  the  unfortunate  Hannah  Robinson  ; "  ^"^^  Tho- 
mas ;^°^  and  Amos,''"^  the  father  of  several  children,  Mrs. 
Daly,  of  Providence,  being  one  of  his  granddaughters. 


76  The  Narragansett  Church 

John  Gardiner's  second  wife  was  Mary  Taylor/'° 
niece  of  the  Honourable  Francis  Willett/"  She  had 
seven  children:  (i)  Abigail/"  who  married  Lodowick 
Updike^^^  and  had  issue.  (2)  William/'^  who  married 
Eunice  Belden,  sister-in-law  of  General  Wyllys/''*  of 
Hartford,  and  left  one  son,  James,  unmarried.  (3) 
John,^'5  who  married  Sarah  Gardiner  and  had  issue. 
(4)  Benjamin,^'^  who  had  issue.  (5  and  6)  Mary  and 
Sarah,^'^  who  died  single.  (7)  Lydia,""'^  who  married 
Robert  Champlin,''''*  a  brother  of  the  late  George  and 
Christopher  Champlin.  They  left  one  daughter,  Mrs. 
Mary  MacRea,'^^  of  Newport.  Mrs.  Champlin's  se- 
cond husband  was  John  Faxon,^'^  by  whom  she  had 
several  children. 

"  29'''July  [  1 770]  Sunday  Evening  Departed  this 
Life  John  Case  Esq^^'  at  Tower  Hill  and  on 
Tuesday  July  31''  He  Was  Decently  Interred  In 
St  Pauls  Church  Yard  North  Kingstown  And 
a  Funeral  Sermon  Preached  By  Mr  F  on  the  Oc- 
casion In  St  Pauls  Church  before  A  Numerous 
And  Attentive  Audience.  Mr  F  Constantly  vis- 
ited Said  Esq  Every  Day  for  Some  Considerable 
time  together  And  Prayed  With  him  And  ad- 
ministered the  Blessed  Sacrament  To  him  Two 
or  Three  times  Distinctly." 

Mr.  Case  was  an  unwavering  friend,  a  generous 
benefaftor  during  life,  and  in  his  will  made  large  do- 
nations to  the  church,  of  which  he  had  been  an  ex- 
emplary member.  He  gave  his  homestead  on  Tower 
Hill, QuakerHill  Farm  andwood  lot,  in  Narragansett, 
to  the  use  of  his  wife  for  life;  and,  after  her  decease, 
in  trust  for  the  use  of  the  Society  for  the  Propaga- 
tion of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts — the  rents,  issues, 
and  profits  to  be  applied  towards  the  support  of  an 
Episcopal  Bishop  of  the  Church  of  England,  when  it 


Chapter  Sixteenth  77 

should  please  God  that  one  should  be  sent  over  prop- 
erly appointed  and  consecrated  to  preside  over  the  Epis- 
copal churches  in  North  America,  whose  diocese  or  dis- 
trict should  comprehend  the  Narragansett  country  and 
none  else;  and  these  bequests  were  for  no  other  use 
or  intent  whatever.  And  before  a  Bishop  should  be 
sent  over,  the  rents  and  profits  should  be  appropri- 
ated towards  the  maintenance  of  the  poor  belonging 
to  the  Church  of  England  in  Narragansett,  who  were 
of  sober  lives  and  conversation,  by  the  officers  of  the 
Church  for  the  time  being.  He  also  bequeathed  five 
hundred  dollars  for  building  a  church  on  the  lot  given 
by  Dr.  MacSparran  for  that  purpose ;  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  "^^^  for  repairing  the  old  church  of  St.  Paul's 
in  North  Kingstown,  and,  if  not  repaired,  but  a  new 
one  built  on  the  MacSparran  lot,  then  said  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  to  be  appropriated  for  that  pur- 
pose; fifty  dollars  for  a  school-house  on  Tower  Hill, 
and  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  in  trust,  the  inter- 
est to  be  applied  to  educate  poor  children  in  the  school- 
house  at  Tower  Hill. 

There  being  no  Bishop  answering  the  provisions  of 
the  will,  the  Church  of  St.  Paul's,  in  Narragansett,  took 
possession  of  the  several  devised  estates,  after  the  death 
of  his  wife,  in  1798,  and  appropriated  the  rents  for  the 
support  of  the  poor  of  the  church  and  its  repairs  until 
1 8 13.  At  this  period,  the  Trustees  of  Donations  in 
Boston,  through  their  agent,  the  Rev.  William  Mon- 
tague,^^^  obtained  possession  of  the  Tower  Hill  es- 
tate,^^"*  claiming  it  in  behalf  of  the  Bishop  of  the  East- 
ern diocese,  which  embraced  Rhode  Island.  The  war- 
dens of  St.  Paul's  commenced  an  adlion  to  recover 
possession.  The  controversy  was  finally  compromised, 
and  the  estate  of  the  late  Mr.  Case  was  surrendered  to 
the  Trustees  of  Donations,  upon  their  agreeing  to  pay 
four  per  cent,  of  the  income  for  the  use  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  forever.  The  Trustees  of  Donations  then  leased 


78  The  Narragansett  Church 

theestatesfor  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  years.  The 
leases  being  personal  estate,  on  the  death  of  the  les- 
sees, the  leases  were  sold  at  auction  by  their  administra- 
tors; in  consequence  whereof  the  annual  payments  to 
the  church  by  theTrustees  of  Donations  became  inter- 
rupted,and  the  Church  of  St.  Paul's  reentered  for  con- 
dition broken,  and  now  hold  the  estates^^^  in  the  same 
manner  as  before  the  surrender.  The  other  benevo- 
lent donations  were  never  applied  for  and  are  now  lost. 
Mr.  Case  died  at  his  mansion  house  on  Tower  Hill, 
South  Kingstown,  July  29,  1770,  and  was  interred  in 
the  church-yard  of  St.  Paul's,  in  North  Kingstown; 
grave-stones,  with  suitable  inscriptions,  were  erefted 
to  his  memory.  Phillippa  Case,^^^  his  wife,  was  the 
daughter  of  Charles  Dickinson,^^^of  Narragansett.  She 
died  atTowerHill,  January  26, 1798. "She  was  a  lady 
of  real  piety  and  goodness."  She  was  buried  by  the  side 
of  her  husband. 

"September  16"^  [1770]  Mr  F  Preached  In  St 
Pauls  And  After  Church  He  Was  Earnestly  De- 
sired To  Go  To  Mr  William  Davis  s'''  Which 
He  Did,  And  Baptize  Three  Children  By  The 
Names  of  Charles^  Chester^  and  Charlotte^  And  at 
the  Request  of  George  Rome^^^  Esq'  A  Gentle- 
man of  Estate  from  Old  England  &c." 

Mr.  Rome  (pronounced  Room)  was  an  English- 
man. He  came  over  to  Rhode  Island  in  1 761,  as  the 
agent  of  the  house  of  Hopkins  &  Haley,  London 
merchants,  and  was  afterwards  appointed  agent  for 
other  British  houses.  He  was  educated  a  merchant. 
He  lived  in  Newport  of  winters  and  in  Narragansett 
of  summers,  owning  the  estate,  since  the  homestead 
of  Judge  Ezekiel  Gardiner,^^°in  Boston  Neck,  North 
Kingstown,  still  called  the  Room  Farm.  It  consisted  of 
about  seven  hundred  acres,  bounding  easterly  on  Nar- 


Chapter  Sixteenth  79 

ragansett  Bay.  The  mansion  house'^^'  was  highly  fin- 
ished and  furnished.  The  beds  were  concealed  from 
view  in  the  wainscots, — the  rooms  might  be  traversed 
throughout  and  not  a  bed  for  the  repose  of  guests  be 
seen.  This  was  a  matter  for  the  astonishment  of  the 
colonial  observer.  When  the  hour  for  retirement  ar- 
rived, a  servant  would  just  give  a  touch  to  a  spring  in 
the  wall,  and  the  visitor's  bed,  by  means  of  a  self- 
adjusting  process,  would  protrude  itself,  as  if  by  magic, 
ready  prepared  for  the  reception  of  its  tenant.  The  gar- 
den'^^^  contained  the  rarest  native  and  exotic  varieties. 
In  Mr.  Rome's  letter,  below,  he  styles  his  residence 
"my  little  country  villa."  He  lived  in  splendour  and 
entertained  his  friends  with  sumptuous  hospitality.  In 
another  place  he  calls  his  residence  Bachelor's-Hall — 
"My  compliments  to  Colonel  Stewart :^^^ may  I  ask 
the  favour  of  you  both  to  come  and  eat  a  Christmas 
dinner  with  me,  at  Bachelor's-Hall,  and  celebrate  the 
festivities  of  the  season  with  me  in  Narragansett  woods? 
A  covey  of  partridges  or  bevy  of  quails  will  be  enter- 
tainment for  the  Colonel  and  me,  while  the  pike  and 
perch  pond  amuse  you."  He  occasionally  gave  large 
parties,  at  which  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  Boston, 
Newport,  and  Narragansett,  would  equally  mingle. 
Punch  was  the  fashionable  beverage  at  that  period,  and 
the  entertainments  at  Bachelor  s-Hall  were  extrava- 
gant. Mr.  Rome  owned,  also,  large  estates  on  Rhode 
Island. ^^^  In  the  Stamp  A6t  excitement  he  strongly  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Crown.  In  1767,  he  wrote  the 
subjoined  letter  to  his  friend  at  Boston  (afterwards 
returned  from  London  with  those  signed  Thomas 
Hutchinson,'"  Andrew  Oliver*''^'*  and  Thomas  Mof- 
faf*^^)  and  the  same  was  transmitted  to  England.  In 
1773,  Dr.  Franklin,  agent  of  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, at  London,  obtained  these  letters  (called,  in 
general,  "the  Hutchinson  letters"),  and  sent  them 
to  America.  Mr.  Rome's  letter  is  as  follows: 


8o  The  Narragansett  Church 

Narragametty  Dec.  22,  1767 

Sir: 

I  AM  now  withdrawn  to  my  little  country  villa,  where, 
though  I  am  more  retired  from  the  busy  world,  yet 
I  am  still  enveloped  with  uneasy  refledions  for  a  tur- 
bulent, degenerate,  ungrateful  continent,  and  the  op- 
position I  have  met  with  in  my  indefatigable  endea- 
vours to  secure  our  property  in  this  colony ,  but  hitherto 
without  success.  The  times  are  so  corrupted,  and  the 
conflidl  of  parties  so  predominant,  that  fa6lion  is  blind, 
or  shuts  her  eyes  to  the  most  evident  truths  that  cross 
her  designs,  and  believes  in  any  absurdities  that  assist 
to  accomplish  her  purposes,  under  the  prostitution  and 
prostration  of  an  infatuated  government.  Judge  then, 
my  dear  Sir,  in  what  a  critical  situation  the  fortunes  of 
us  poor  Europeans  must  be  among  them. 

We  have  not  been  able  to  recover  our  property  for 
years  past —  howgreat  soever  our  exigencies  may  have 
been — unless  we  soothed  them  into  a  compliance.  We 
are  unwilling  to  enter  into  lites-contestation  with  them, 
because  the  perversion  of  their  iniquitous  courts  of 
justice  is  so  great,  that  experience  hath  convinced  us 
we  had  better  lose  half,  to  obtain  the  other  quietly, 
than  pursue  compulsory  measures.  We  are  also  afraid 
to  apply  to  a  British  Parliament  for  relief,  as  none  can 
be  effe6tually  administered  without  a  change  of  gov- 
ernment, and  a  better  administration  of  justice  intro- 
duced; and,  were  it  known  here  that  we  made  such  ap- 
plication at  home,  not  only  our  fortunes  would  be  in 
greater  jeopardy,  but  our  lives  endangered  by  it,  be- 
fore any  salutary  regulations  could  take  place.  We  are 
sensible  of  the  goodness  of  the  King  and  Parliament, 
but  how  far,  or  in  what  space  of  time,  our  grievance, 
as  a  few  individuals,  might  weigh  against  the  influence 
of  a  charter  government,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  determine. 

In  1 76 1,  I  arrived  in  America,  which  circumstance 
you  probably  remember  well.  With  great  industry. 


chapter  Sixteenth  8i 

caution,  and  circumspedion,  I  have  not  only  reduced 
our  demands,  and  regulated  our  connexions  in  some 
measure,  but  kept  my  head  out  of  a  halter  which  you 
had  the  honour  to  grace.^'^^  (Pray,  Do(5lor,  how  did  it 
feel?  The  subject  is  stale,  but  I  must  be  a  little  funny 
with  you  on  this  occasion.)  Much  still  remains  to  be 
done,  and,  after  all  my  best  endeavours,  my  constitu- 
ents, from  a  moderate  calculation,  cannot  lose  less  than 
fifty  thousand  pounds  sterling  by  the  baleful  constitu- 
tion of  this  colony,  and  the  corruption  of  their  courts 
of  judicature.  It  is  really  a  very  affedting  and  melan- 
choly consideration. 

Under  a  deep  sense  of  the  infirmities  of  their  con- 
stitution, the  innovations  which  they  have  gradually 
interwoven  among  themselves,  and  stimulated  by  every 
a6t  of  forbearance,  lenity,  and  patience,  we  have  in- 
dulged our  correspondents  until  deluges  of  bankrupt- 
cies have  ensued;  insolvent  a6ls  liberated  them  from 
our  just  demands,  and,  finally,  we  have  had  our  indis- 
putable accounts  refused  admission  for  our  proportion 
of  the  small  remains,  until  colony  creditors  were  first 
paid,  and  the  whole  absorbed.  We  have  had  vessels 
made  over  to  us  for  the  satisfaction  of  debts,  and,  after 
bills  of  sale  were  executed,  carried  off,  in  open  violence 
and  by  force,  by  Captain  Snip-Snap,  of  Mr,  Nobody's 
appointment;  and,  when  we  sued  him  for  damages,  re- 
covered a  louse.  We  have,  in  our  turn,  been  sued  in 
our  absence,  and  condemned,  ex-parte^  in  large  sums 
for  imaginary  damages,  for  which  we  can  obtain  nei- 
ther a  trial  nor  redress.  They  refuse  us  an  appeal  to  the 
King  in  Council;  the  money  must  be  paid  when  their 
executions  become  returnable;  and,  were  we  to  carry  it 
home  by  wayofcomplaintjitwould  cost  us  twoorthree 
hundred  pounds  sterling  to  prosecute;  and  after  all, 
when  his  Majesty's  decree  comes  over  in  our  favour, 
and  refunding  the  money  can  no  longer  be  evaded,  I 
expeft  their  effedls  would  be  secreted,  their  bodies  re- 


82  The  Narragansett  Church 

leased  by  the  insolvent  aft,  and  our  money — both 
principal,  interest,  and  expenses — irrecoverably  gone. 
Is  not  our  case  grievous  ?  We  have,  in  aftions  founded 
on  notes  of  hand,  been  cast  in  the  courts  of  judicature. 
We  have  appealed  to  his  Majesty  in  Council  for  re- 
dress, got  their  verdidts  reversed,  and  obtained  the 
King's  decree  for  our  money,  but  that  is  all;  for  though 
I  have  had  them  by  me  for  twelve  months,  and  em- 
ployed two  eminent  lawyers  to  enforce  into  execution, 
conformable  to  the  colony  law,  yet  we  have  not  been 
able  to  recover  a  single  shilling,  though  we  have 
danced  after  their  courts  and  assemblies  above  thirty 
days  in  vain,  to  accomplish  that  purpose  only.  Con- 
sider, my  dear  Sir,  what  expense,  vexation,  and  loss 
of  time  this  must  be  to  us,  and  whether  we  have  not 
just  cause  of  complaint. 

We  have  also  in  vain  waited  with  great  impatience 
for  years  past,  in  hopes  his  Majesty  would  have  nomi- 
nated his  judges,  and  other  executive  officers,  in  every 
colony  in  America — which  would  in  a  great  measure 
remove  the  cause  of  our  complaint.  Nothing  can  be 
more  necessary  than  a  speedy  regulation  in  this,  and 
constituting  it  a  regal  government;  and  nothing  is  of 
such  important  use  to  a  nation,  as  that  men  who  ex- 
cel in  wisdom  and  virtue  should  be  encouraged  to  un- 
dertake the  business  of  government.  But  the  iniqui- 
tous course  of  their  courts  of  justice  in  this  colony, 
deter  such  men  from  serving  the  public;  or,  if  they  do 
so,  unless  patronized  at  home,  their  wisdom  and  virtue 
are  turned  against  them  with  such  malignity,  that  it 
is  more  safe  to  be  infamous  thd.n  renowned.  The  princi- 
pal exception  I  have  met  with  here,  is  James  Helme, 
Esquire,^"' "^  who  was  chosen  Chief  Justice  by  the 
General  Assembly  at  last  election.  He  accepted  his 
appointment,  distinguishes  himself  by  capacity  and 
application,  and  seems  to  be  never  ashamed  to  ad- 
minister impartial  justice  to  all — even  to  the  native 


Chapter  Sixteenth  83 

and  residing  creditors  of  the  mother  country.  I  have 
known  hinl  to  grant  them  temporary  relief  by  writs 
of  error,  and,  when  he  and  they  were  overruled  by  the 
partiality  ofthe  court,  in  vain  —  though  with  great  can- 
dour and  force  —  plead  with  the  rest  ofthe  bench,  that 
for  the  honour  of  the  colony  and  their  own  reputa- 
tion they  ought  never  to  pay  less  regard  to  the  de- 
crees of  his  Majesty  in  Council,  because  the  property 
was  determined  in  Great  Britain,  than  to  their  own. 
I  have  also  heard  him  with  resolution  and  firmness^ 
when  he  discovered  the  court  to  be  immediately  par- 
tial, order  his  name  to  be  enrolled  as  dissenting  from 
the  verdid.  For  such  honesty  and  candour,  I  am  per- 
suaded he  will  be  deposed  at  next  eledion,  unless 
they  should  be  still  in  hopes  of  making  a  convert  of 
him.  I  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  prevent  every 
American  from  suffering  for  the  cause  of  integrity  and 
their  mother  country;  he^  in  a  special  manner,  should 
not  only  be  protefted  and  supported,  but  appear 
among  the  first  promotions.  Is  there  no  gentleman 
of  public  spirit  at  home,  who  would  be  pleased  to  be 
an  instrument  of  elevating  a  man  of  his  principles  and 
propriety?  or  has  it  become  fashionable  for  vice  to  be 
countenanced  with  impunity, and  every  trace  of  virtue 
passed  over  unnoticed?  God  forbid! 

The  colonies  have  originally  been  wrong  founded. 
They  ought  to  have  been  regal  governments,  and  every 
executive  officer  approved  by  the  King.  Until  that  is 
effected,  and  they  are  properly  regulated,  they  will 
never  be  beneficial  to  themselves,  nor  good  subje6ts 
of  Great  Britain.  You  see  with  what  contempt  they 
already  treat  the  ads  of  Parliament  for  regulating  their 
trade,  and  enter  into  the  most  public,  illegal,  and  af- 
fronting combinations  to  obtain  a  repeal,  by  again  im- 
posing upon  the  British  merchants  and  manufafturers, 
and  all  under  the  cloak  of  retrenching  their  expenses, 
by  avoiding  every  unnecessary  superfluity.  Were  that 


84  The  Narragansett  Church 

really  the  case,  I  am  sure  I,  and  every  other  British 
subject,  would  esteem  them  for  it;  but  the  fad:  is, 
they  obtained  a  repeal  of  the  Stamp  A61  by  mercan- 
tile influence,  and  they  are  now  endeavouring,  by  the 
same  artifice  and  finesse,  to  repeal  the  ads  of  trade, 
and  obtain  a  total  exemption  from  all  taxation.  Were 
it  otherwise,  and  they  sincerely  disposed  to  stop  the 
importation  of  every  unnecessary  superfluity — with- 
out affronting  the  British  legislation  by  their  public, 
general,  andillegal combinations — they  might  accom- 
plish their  purposes  with  much  more  decency,  and 
suppress  it  more  effedually  by  ads  of  their  own  le- 
gislation—  imposing  such  duties  upon  their  importa- 
tion here  as  might  occasion  a  total  prohibition, or  con- 
fine the  consumption  of  them  to  particular  individuals 
that  can  afford  to  buy  — by  which  measures  they  would 
also  raise  a  considerable  colony  revenue,  and  ease 
poorer  inhabitants  in  the  tax  they  now  pay.  But  the 
temper  of  the  country  is  exceedingly  faSlious^  and 
prone  to  sedition :  they  aregrowingmore  imperious  and 
haughty — nay,  insolent — every  day;  and  in  a  short 
space,  unless  wholesome  regulations  take  place,  the 
spirit  they  have  enkindled,  and  the  conceptions  of  gov- 
ernment they  have  imbibed,  will  be  more  grievous  to 
the  mother  country  than  even  ostracism  was  to  the 
Athenians. 

A  bridle  at  present  may  accomplish  more  than  a 
rod  hereafter,  for  the  malignant  poison  of  the  times, 
like  a  general  pestilence,  spreads  beyond  conception; 
and  if  the  British  Parliament  are  too  late  in  their  re- 
gulations, negled  measures  for  seven  years  which  are 
essentially  necessary  now — should  they  then  be  able 
to  stifle  their  commotions,  it  will  only  be  a  temporary 
extindion — consequently  every  hour'sindulgence will 
answer  no  other  purpose  than  enable  them  in  a  more 
effedual  manner  to  sow  seeds  of  dissension,  to  be  re- 
kindled whenever  they  are  in  a  capacity  to  oppose  the 


chapter  Sixteenth  85 

mother  country,  and  render  themselves  independent 
of  her. 

Have  they  not  already,  in  the  most  public  manner, 
shewn  their  opposition  to  the  measures  of  Parliament, 
in  the  affair  of  the  late  Stamp  Ad?  Don't  they  now, 
with  equal  violence  and  audacity,  in  both  public  pa- 
pers and  conversation,  declare  the  Parliamentary  re- 
gulations in  their  a6ls  of  trade  to  be  illegal  and  a  mere 
nullity?  What  further  proof  do  we  wait  for,  of  either 
their  good  or  bad  disposition?  Did  you  ever  hear  of 
any  colonies,  in  their  infant  state,  teachingthe  science  of 
tyranny  reduced  into  rule,  over  every  subjedl  that  dis- 
countenanced their  measures  in  opposition  to  the 
mother  country,  in  a  more  impetuous  manner  than 
they  have  done  these  four  years  past?  Have  they  not 
made  use  of  every  stroke  of  policy  (in  their  way)  to 
avail  themselves  of  their  dark  purposes  of  their  inde- 
pendence and  suffered  no  restraint  of  conscience  or 
fear,  not  even  the  guilt  of  threatening  to  excite  a  civil 
war  and  revolt,if  not  indulged  with  an  unlimited  trade, 
without  restraint,  and  British  protection  without  ex- 
pense? for  that  is  the  English  of  it.  Is  this,  then,  a  true 
or  a  mistaken  portrait?  Say,  if  it  is  their  true  one, 
ought  not  such  pernicious  maxims  of  policy,  such  wick- 
ed discipline,  such  ingratitude,  such  dissimulation,  such 
perfidy,  such  violent,  ruthless,  and  sanguinary  coun- 
cils— where  a  Cleon  bears  rule  and  an  Aristides  can- 
not be  endured — to  be  crushed  in  embryo?  If  not,  the 
alternative  cannot  avoid  producing  such  agovernment 
as  will  ere-long  throw  the  whole  kingdom  into  the  ut- 
most confusion,  endanger  the  life,  liberty,  and  pro- 
perty of  every  good  subje6l  and  again  expose  them  to 
the  merciless  assassination  of  a  rabble.  I  am  sensible 
that  in  all  political  disputes,  especially  in  America,  a 
man  may  see  something  to  blame  on  both  sides,  and 
so  much  to  fear,  whichever  faction  should  conquer,  as 
to  be  justified  in  not  intermeddling  with  either;  but 


86         The  Narragansett  Church 

in  matters  of  such  vast  importance  as  the  present, 
wherein  we  have  suffered  so  much,  still  deeply  inter- 
ested, and  by  which  the  peace  and  tranquillity  of  the 
nation  is  at  stake,  it  is  difficult  to  conceal  one's  emo- 
tions from  a  friend  and  remain  a  tranquil  spe6lator  on 
a  theatre  of  such  chicanery  and  collusion  as  will  inevi- 
tably (if  not  checked,  and  may  sooner  happen  than  is 
imagined  by  many)  chill  the  blood  of  many  a  Briton. 
It  may  be  true  policy,  in  some  cases,  to  tame  the  fier- 
cest spirit  of  popular  liberty,  not  by  blows  or  by  chains, 
but  by  soothing  into  willing  obedience  and  make  her 
kiss  the  very  hand  that  restrains  her;  but  such  policy 
would  be  a  very  unsuitable  potion  to  cure  the  malady 
of  the  present  times.  They  are  too  much  corrupted, 
and  already  so  much  intoxicated  with  their  own  im- 
portance, as  to  make  a  wrong  use  of  lenient  measures. 
They  construe  them  into  their  own  natural  rights,  and 
a  timidity  in  the  mother  country.  They  consider  them- 
selves a  little  bigger  than  tht  frog  in  the.  faille ^Rnd  that 
Great  Britain  can  never  long  grapple  with  their  huge 
territory  of  fifteen  hundred  miles  frontier,  already  po- 
pulous and  increasing  with  such  celerity,  as  to  double 
their  number  once  in  twenty-five  years.  This  is  not 
perfectly  consonant  with  my  idea  of  the  matter,  though 
such  calculation  has  been  made;  and,  admitting  it  to 
be  erroneous,  yet,  as  they  believe  it,  it  has  the  same 
evil  effed:,  and  possesses  the  imaginations  of  the  people 
with  such  a  degree  of  insanity  and  enthusiasm,  as  there 
is  hardly  any  thing  more  common  than  to  hear  their 
boast  of  particular  colonies  that  can  raise  on  a  short 
notice  an  hundred  thousand  fighting  men  to  oppose 
the  force  of  Great  Britain;  certain  it  is  they  increase 
in  numbers  by  emigration,  &c.,  very  fast,  and  are  be- 
come such  a  body  of  people,  with  such  extensive  ter- 
ritory, as  require  every  bud  of  their  genius  and  dis- 
position to  be  narrowly  watched, and  pruned  with  great 
judgement, otherwise  they  may  become  not  only  trou- 


chapter  Sixteenth  87 

blesome  to  Great  Britain,  but  enemies  to  themselves. 
Now  is  the  critical  season.  They  are  like  some  raw, 
giddy  youth,  just  emerging  into  the  world,  in  a  cor- 
rupt, degenerate  age.  A  parent  or  a  guardian  is  still 
necessary;  and  if  well  managed,  they  will  soon  arrive 
at  such  maturity  as  to  become  obedient,  dutiful  chil- 
dren; but  if  negleded  long,  the  rod  of  chastisement 
will  be  so  much  longer  necessary  as  to  become  too 
burthensome,  and  must  be  dropt  with  the  colonies. 
They  almost  consider  themselves  a  separate  people 
from  Great  Britain  already. 

Last  month  when  I  was  attending  the  General  As- 
sembly, the  Governor  sent  a  written  message  to  the 
Lower  House,  imparting  his  intention  of  a  resigna- 
tion at  the  next  election,  assigning  for  reasons,  the 
fumes  in  the  colony,  and  party  spirit  so  high,  and  that 
bribery  and  corruption  were  so  predominant,  that 
neither  life,  liberty,  nor  property,  were  safe,  &c.,  &c., 
&c.  Now,  Sir,  whether  the  Governor's  intention,  as 
exhibited  in  this  open,  public  declaration,  was  real,  or 
feigned,  to  answer  political  purposes,  it  still  evinces 
their  decrepit  state;  the  prostitution  of  Government, 
and  melancholy  situation  of  every  good  subjed;;  for  it 
cannot  be  supposed  by  any  candid  inquisitor,  that  a 
declaration  of  that  nature  and  form,  would,  if  not  true, 
have  been  delivered  by  a  Governor  to  a  whole  legis- 
lative body,  in  order  to  emancipate  himself.  If  this 
truth  is  granted,  and  this  allowed  to  be  their  unhappy 
situation,  how  much  is  it  the  duty  of  every  good  man  — 
and  what  language  is  sufficient?  —  topaintinaneffe6lual 
manner,  this  internal  imbecility  of  an  English  colony 
(in  many  other  respects  favourably  situated  for  trade 
and  commerce,one  of  the  safest,  largest,  and  most  com- 
modious harbours  in  all  America, or  perhaps  in  all  Eu- 
rope, accessible  in  all  seasons,  situated  in  a  fine  cli- 
mate, and  abounding  with  fertile  soil),  to  the  mater- 
nal bowels  of  compassion,  in  order  that  she  may  be 


88         The  Narragansett  Church 

seasonable,  if  she  thinks  it  necessary  to  interpose,  re- 
gulate, and  wipe  away  their  pernicious  charter,  ren- 
dered obnoxious  by  the  abuse  of  it. 

I  am  afraid  I  have  tried  your  patience  with  a  sub- 
je6l  that  must  give  pain  to  every  impartial  friend  to 
Great  Britain  and  her  colonies.  When  I  took  my  pen, 
I  intended  only  to  communicate  the  outlines  of  such 
of  my  perplexities  (without  going  so  far  into  political 
matter),  as  I  thought  would  atone  for,  or  excuse  my 
long  silence,  and  excite  your  compassion  and  advice. 

Our  friend  Robinson  ^''^  has  gone  to  Boston  to  join 
the  Commissioners.  My  compliments  to  Colonel  Stew- 
art.^^^  May  I  ask  the  favour  of  you  both  to  come, 
and  eat  a  Christmas  dinnerwith  me  at  Bachelor's-Hall, 
and  celebrate  the  festivity  of  the  season  with  me  in 
Narragansett  woods?  A  covey  of  partridges,  or  bevy 
of  quails,  will  be  entertainment  for  the  Colonel  and 
me,  while  the  pike  and  perch  pond  amuse  you.  Should 
business  or  preengagements  prevent  me  that  pleasure, 
permit  me  to  ask  the  favour  of  your  earliest  intelli- 
genceoftheproceedingsof  Parliament;  and  your  opin- 
ion whether  our  case  is  not  so  great  as  to  excite  your 
compassion  and  interposition,  were  it  known.  This  nar- 
rative, with  your  knowledge  of  many  of  the  fads,  and 
of  the  disposition  of  the  colonies  in  general,  will  re- 
fresh your  memory,  and  enable  you  to  form  a  judge- 
ment. Relief  from  home  seems  so  tedious,  especially 
to  us  who  have  suffered  so  much,  are  like  to  suffer 
more,  and  are  unacquainted  with  the  reasons  of  the 
delay,  that  I  am  quite  impatient. 

Above  twelve  months  ago,  I  received  from  three 
gentlemen  in  London  (in  trust  for  several  others),  ex- 
emplified accounts  for  a  balance  of  above  twenty-six 
thousand  pounds  sterling,  mostly  due  from  this  Col- 
ony, not  fifty  pounds  of  which  shall  I  ever  be  able  to 
recover  without  compulsive  measures,  and  what  is  still 
worse,  my  lawyer  advises  me  from  all  thoughts  of  pro- 


chapter  Sixteenth  89 

secution,  unless  a  change  of  government  ensues.  I  am, 
therefore,  obHged  to  send  them  his  opinion  (in  justi- 
fication of  my  own  condud)  in  lieu  of  money  ten  years 
due.  Poor  satisfadlion !  Our  consolation  must  be  in  a 
British  Parliament.  Every  other  avenue  is  rendered 
impregnable  by  their  subtlety  and  degeneracy  and  we 
can  no  longer  depend  upon  a  people,  who  are  so  un- 
thankful for  our  indulgencies  and  for  the  lenity  of  the 
mother  country.  I  wish  you  the  compliments  of  the 
approaching  season  and  a  succession  of  many  Happy 
New  Years. 

I  am.  Sir,  with  much  regard. 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

G.  Rome 

At  the  August  session  of  the  General  Assembly, 
1 774,  holden  at  Newport,  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  letter 
was  read  by  the  Speaker,  Metcalf  Bowler,  Esq.,'*^'  with 
those  of  Governor  Hutchinson,'"  Dr.  Moffat,'*'^^  &c., 
and,  after  a  short  debate,  the  further  consideration 
thereof  was  postponed  to  the  next  Od:ober  session  and 
the  Speaker  direded  to  write  to  the  Speaker  of  the 
Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives  for  the  ori- 
ginal, which  was,  accordingly,  done.  At  the  August 
Town  Meeting  in  Providence,  the  people  instructed 
their  representatives  to  enquire  into  charges,  contained 
in  said  letter,  of  corruption  and  partiality,  against  the 
courts  and  the  legislative  body;  to  examine  whether 
the  fountain  of  justice  in  the  Colony  had  been  shut  up, 
or  the  law  withheld  from  any  and,  if  so,  to  remove 
from  office  those  who  had  been  instrumental  therein. 
But  if,  upon  examination,  it  be  found  that  the  charges 
therein  are  false,  groundless,  and  calculated  to  revile 
the  administration  of  justice,  then  to  exert  themselves, 
by  all  constitutional  means,  to  bring  the  said  G.  Rome 
toanswerfor  such  scandalous  aspersions  andvile  abuse 
of  this  Government.  Other  towns  passed  similar  in- 
structions. At  the  Oftober  session  of  the  General  As- 


90         The  Narragansett  Church 

sembly,  holden  at  South  Kingstown,  Mr.  Rome  was 
brought  to  the  bar  of  the  House  on  a  warrant  on  ac- 
count of  the  aforesaid  letter,  sometime  since  returned 
from  England,  when  the  following  questions  were  by 
order  put  to  him,  a  copy  of  said  letter  being  previously 
read  in  his  presence: 

QuesL  Did  you  ever  write  a  letter  in  substance  and 
sense  agreeing,  or  nearly  agreeing,  with  the  copy  of 
the  letter  you  have  now  heard  read,  signed  G.  Rome? 

Ans.  I  do  not  think,  upon  the  privilege  of  an  Eng- 
lishman, that  the  question  is  fairly  stated,  because  I 
do  not  consider  I  am  to  be  called  here  to  accuse  my- 
self When  you,  Mr.  Speaker,  are  pleased  to  present 
to  me  any  letter  in  my  handwriting,  I  will  most  readily 
acknowledge  the  same,  and  grant  the  House  all  the 
satisfadion  they  are  pleased  to  require,  with  the  ut- 
most candour  and  sincerity.  As  the  question  stands,  I 
must  protest  against  the  same. 

Q,uest.  Will  you,  or  will  you  not,  make  a  direct  an- 
swer to  the  question  which  has  now  been  proposed  to 
you? 

Ans.  I  have  already  made  a  diredl  answer  by  say- 
ing I  cannot  be  legally  called  to  the  bar  of  the  House 
to  accuse  myself. 

These  answers  being  by  the  House  deemed  evasive 
and  a  contempt,  the  said  George  Rome  was  committed 
to  the  common  gaol  of  South  Kingstown,  where  he  re- 
mained till  the  House  rose. 

The  gross  charges  of  Mr.  Rome  of  corruption  and 
partiality  against  the  Legislature,  the  courts  and  ju- 
ries of  the  Colony,  with  the  advice  to  annul  the  Char- 
ter, and  create  a  government  more  dependent  on  the 
Crown,  produced  an  exasperation  too  powerful  to  be 
withstood;  and  apprehending  danger,  soon  after  his 
release  from  prison,  he  fled  on  board  of  the  Rose, 
man-of-war,^^''  then  lying  in  Narragansett  Bay.  Pre- 
viously to  his  departure,  he  and  others  conveyed  their 


chapter  Sixteenth  91 

estates,  but  they  were,  nevertheless,  seized  for  the  use 
of  the  Colony.  The  Legislature,  at  their  Odober  ses- 
sion, 1775,  passed  the  following  resolutions:  "That 
the  condud  of  General  Hopkins''''^in  resped:  to  taking 
possession,  in  behalf  of  this  Colony,  of  the  estates  of 
George  Rome,  Benjamin  Brenton,*^'^*^  the  heirs  of  An- 
drew Oliver,^'^'*  dec'd,  Jahleel  Brenton,^*^^  and  Thomas 
Hutchinson,'"  as  persons  inimical  to  the  true  inter- 
est of  this  Colony,  be  approved  of,  and  that  said  es- 
tates be  kept  in  possession  of  those  persons  appointed 
by  the  General  in  behalf  of  this  Colony,  and  that  they 
account  to  the  Colony  for  the  back  and  future  rents 
and  profits  thereof."  And  that  the  "deeds  by  George 
Rome,  Jahleel  Brenton,  Benjamin  Brenton,  Ralph  In- 
man,''^^  Gilbert  De  Blois,'^^  Samuel  Sewall,^^^  Thomas 
Hutchinson,  Dr.  Thomas  MofFat,'*^^  heirs  of  Andrew 
Oliver,  and  John  Borland,''""  made  and  executed  since 
the  5th  day  of  Odober,  1775,  or  not  recorded  before 
that  time,  be  null  and  void."  The  General  Assembly  in 
Odober,  1776,  appointed  "John  Smith  a  committee 
to  sell  at  public  audion  all  the  efFeds  of  George  Rome 
and  Charles  Dudley,''"' in  possession  of  this  State,  and 
pay  the  money  into  the  General  Treasury."  Thus  the 
great  estates  of  Mr.  Rome  were  lost  to  his  family  for- 
ever. Scarcely  any  vestige  remains  of  his  "villa"  at 
North  Kingstown  to  recall  the  recolledions  of  its  for- 
mer splendour.  In  appearance,  it  is  republican  enough 
to  disarm  the  envy  of  the  meanest  jacobin. 


Chapter  XVII 

A.D.    1770  to  A.D.    1774 

The  Honourable  "James  Honyman.  The  Rev.  Mar- 
maduke  Browne.  Christening  "  Gossips.'*  Colonel 
Whailey^  the  Regicide.  Colonel  "John  Gardiner. 
Bishop  Parker. 

NEXT  Day  being  the  17''  of  September 
[1770]  Mr.  F  [ayerweather]  Sott  off  for 
Boston  To  Attend  The  Annual  Convention  of 
the  Clergy,  and  Preached  there  In  the  Several 
Churches  etc.  The  Rev'*Mr.Troutbeck'°^  Kings 
Chaplin  Preached  before  the  Clergy  On  Said 
Occasion  from  That  Text  *What  is  Truth  .?"* 

"  Nov'  1 1 *'  [  1 770]  The  Reverend  Mr.  Usher'' 
of  Bristol  Preached  and  Read  Prayers  for  Mr. 
F  In  St  Pauls  Narraganset,  He  being  a  Hearer." 

"On  the  12""  of  February  [1771],  Do6tor  Ro- 
bert Hazard '^^^  Was  Buried,  Having  Died  by  a 
Long  Lingering  Illness  Saturday  Evening  About 
6  "Clock  The  Ninth  Day  of  the  month.  A  Con- 
siderable Assembly  Present  At  his  house,  and  a 
Funeral  Sermon  Preached  by  Mr  F —  from  a 
Subjeft  Suitable  to  the  Occasion. .  .  .  Sunday 
24'''  Mr.  F  Preached  at  the  house  of  mourning 
The  Late  Do6tor  Hazards  On  Mortality.  A  large 
Congregation  Present.  The  Hon'''^  James  Hony- 
man'^^^  Present  Who  came  from  'little  Rest' 
Where  the  Court  had  been  Sitting  the  Whole 
Week." 

Mr.  Honyman  was  the  son  of  the   Rev.  James 


Chapter  Seventeenth  93 

Honyman/°  Re6lor  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport.  He 
was  born  in  April,  1710,  and  was  educated  for  the 
bar.  In  1732,  he  was  eleded  Attorney-General  of  the 
Colony,  and  was  annually  reelefted  until  1741,  when 
the  law  appointing  one  Attorney-General  was  re- 
pealed, and  County  Attorneys  were  substituted.  He 
was  one  of  the  committee  on  the  Eastern  boundary 
question  in  the  controversy  with  Massachusetts,  in 
1741,  and  was  junior  counsel  with  Daniel  Updike,'^'* 
who  argued  the  case  before  the  King's  commissioners 
at  Providence  against  Bollan  ^'^^  and  Auchmuty,''^''  the 
counsel  for  Massachusetts.  The  commissioners  gave 
judgement  in  favour  of  Rhode  IslandTni755,  he  was 
appointed,  with  Governor  Hopkins  ^""^  and  others,  to 
attend  the  Congress  of  Governors  and  Commissioners 
of  the  Northern  colonies,  at  Boston,  to  concert  mea- 
sures against  the  French.  In  1756,  he  was  elefted  first 
Senator  of  the  Colony,  and  was  annually  reele6ted  as 
first  Assistant  in  the  Legislature  until  1764.  The  Brit- 
ish government  having  enforced  the  rule  of '56,  it  occa- 
sioned great  losses  to  the  merchants,  and  created  great 
irritation  in  the  colonies;  and  this  Colony,  as  well  as 
others,  remonstrated  against  it  with  decision  and  firm- 
ness, and  Mr.  Honyman  being  opposed  to  the  remon- 
strance,declinedareele(5lion.  Shortly  after,  Mr.  Hony- 
man was  appointed,  by  the  Crown,  Advocate-General 
of  the  Court  of  Vice-Admiralty  for  the  Colony,  which 
office  he  continued  to  hold — discharging  its  duties  to 
public  satisfaction  —  until  the  Revolution. 

Mr.  Honyman  was  a  sound  and  able  lawyer,  and 
enjoyed  an  extensive  practice  throughout  the  Colony. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Goulding,  daughter  of  George 
Goulding,''°^  of  Newport.  He  died  February  15,1778, 
aged  sixty-seven  years,  leaving  two  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters. His  sons  died  in  early  life,  and,  his  daughters  mar- 
rying persons  adhering  to  the  cause  of  the  Crown,  the 
estates  devised  by  Mr.  Honyman  to  his  children  were 


94         The  Narragansett  Church 

mostly  confiscated,  but  upon  petitions  by  his  children, 
the  Legislature  restored  them. 

"On  Thursday,  the  21'' of  March  [1771],  Mr. 
F[ayerweather]  being  Invited  by  a  Letter  from 
the  Church  Wardens  of  Trinity  Church,  New- 
port, He  attended  as  a  Paul  Bearer  The  Fu- 
neral of  the  Rev'*'  Marmaduke  Browne,  Pastor 
of  Said  Church,  Where  a  Sermon  Was  Preached 
By  The  Rev'*"  Mr.  Bissit  ^""^  Colleague  To  a  very 
Numerous  And  Weeping  Congregation." 

Under  date  of  the  9th  of  January,  1767,  the 
Record  says :  "Mr.  F  Was  Sent  for  To  Attend 
the  Funeral  of  Mrs.  Browne  The  Consort  of  the 
Rev''"  Mr.  Browne  Over  Whom  He  Performed 
the  Funeral  Service  In  Trinity  Church  New- 
port. An  Exceedingly  large  Concourse  of  Peo- 
ple Attended  But  No  Sermon,  as  both  the  Lady 
herself  and  her  husband  too  had  An  Utter  Aver- 
sion to  Pomp  and  Show  on  those  Occasions,  and 
Utterly  Against  All  Parading." 

The  Rev.  Marmaduke  Browne,^°^  a  son  of  the  Rev. 
Arthur  Browne,^°^of  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire, on 
the  resignation,  in  1760,  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Pollen,^''' 
was  unanimously  chosen  to  officiate  as  minister  of 
Trinity  Church,  Newport,  and  was  appointed  a  mis- 
sionary by  the  home  society.  The  church  flourished 
under  his  ministry,  and,  in  1762,  the  edifice  was  en- 
larged to  the  eastward,  so  as  to  admit  of  the  eredlion  of 
thirty  additional  pews.  The  present  steeple  of  Trinity 
was  built  in  1768.  An  ad;  of  incorporation  was  pro- 
cured from  the  General  Assembly  in  1769.  Mr.  Browne 
continued  his  connexion  with  Trinity  Church  until 
his  death,  which  took  place  on  the  i9thofMarch,  1771. 
He  left  an  only  son,  who,  in  1795,  caused  a  marble 


chapter  Seventeenth  95 

tablet,  with  a  raised  profile  likeness  of  his  father, to  be 
ereded  on  the  walls  of  Trinity  Church,  in  memory  of 
his  parents.  It  bears  the  following  inscription:''' 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  THE  REVEREND  MARMADUKE  BROWNE 

FORMERLY  RECTOR  OF  THIS  PARISH 

A  MAN  EMINENT  FOR  TALENTS  LEARNING  AND  RELIGION, 

WHO  DEPARTED  THIS  LIFE  ON  THE  19TH  OF  MARCH  1771. 

AND  OF  ANNE  HIS  WIFE,  A  LADY  OF  UNCOMMON  PIETY, 

AND  SUAVITY  OF  MANNER 

WHO  DIED  THE  6th  DAY  OF  JANUARY  1767 

THIS  MONUMENT  WAS  ERECTED  BY  THEIR  SON  ARTHUR  BROWNE  ESQ,"^ 

NOW  SENIOR  FELLOW  OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE  DUBLIN  IN  IRELAND, 

AND  REPRESENTATIVE  IN  PARLIAMENT  FOR  THE  SAME. 

IN  TOKEN  OF  HIS  GRATITUDE  AND  AFFECTION 

TO  THE  BEST  AND  TENDEREST  OF  PARENTS 

AND  OF  HIS  RESPECT  AND  LOVE  FOR  A  CONGREGATION  AMONG  WHOM 

AND  FOR  A  PLACE  WHERE 

HE  SPENT  HIS  EARLIEST  AND  HIS  HAPPIEST  DAYS. 

HEU  !  QUANTO  MINUS  EST 

CUM  ALUS  VERSARI 

QUAM  TUI  MEMINISSE 

MDCCXCV. 

His  above-mentioned  son  is  the  subjed:  of  the  fol- 
lowing notice: 

"Honourable  Arthur  Browne,  LL.D.,7°7was  at  an 
early  age  sent  from  Newport  to  the  care  of  a  relative 
in  Ireland  for  education.  He  was  a  man  gifted  with 
extraordinary  mental  powers,  which  he  improved  by 
almost  incessant  study,  and  by  intercourse  with  the 
most  able  scholars  and  politicians  of  the  day.  He  soon 
rose  to  eminence — was  Senior  Fellowand  Senior  Proc- 
tor of  Trinity  College,  a  Dodor  of  Civil  Laws  and 
King's  Professorof  Greek.  For  alength  of  time  he  held 
the  Vicar  Generalship  of  the  Diocese  of  Kildare,  and 
also  practised  in  the  Courts,  as  an  eminent  though  not 
a  leading  barrister.  For  many  years,  no  person  in  the 
University  enjoyed  greater  popularity.  They  gave  him 
their  best  and  most  honourable  gift — they  appointed 

*On  the  tablet  the  5th  and  6th  and  the  nth  and  12th  lines  read  as 
one  line  each. 


96  The  Narragansett  Church 

him  their  representative  in  the  National  Legislature, 
and  the  Irish  House  of  Commons  for  many  years  lis- 
tened with  surprise  and  admiration  to  his  bold  and 
powerful  eloquence.  On  questions  of  great  national  im- 
portance, Dr.  Browne  could  speak  with  surprising  ef- 
fed.  As  to  little  subjedts,  he  seldom  interfered  with  the 
opposition  party,  with  which  it  was  his  desire  or  chance 
to  associate,  —  he  supported  all  their  leading  mea- 
sures—  on  the  Placeand  Pension  bills.  Catholic  Eman- 
cipation,and  the  Suspension  of  the  Habeas  Corpus,  he 
brought  all  his  talents  into  action.  He  was  a  strong  ad- 
vocate of  Parliamentary  reform,  an  enemy  to  the  abuse 
of  power,  and  always  stood  forward  as  the  champion  of 
the  people.  On  thegreat  question  ofthe  Union  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  he  took  part  with  the  ministry, and 
his  support  and  example  greatly  contributed  to  that 
event.  Shortly  after  the  Union,  Dr.  Browne  was  ap- 
pointed Prime  Sergeant,  and  it  is  supposed,  had  he  sur- 
vived, he  would  have  obtaineda  situation  on  the  bench. 

"Besides  various  political  pamphlets.  Dr.  Browne 
was  the  author  of  two  volumes  of  miscellaneous  essays 
and  dissertations  in  which  many  questions  of  literature 
and  criticism  were  ably  discussed.  These  volumes  are 
now  out  of  print,  which  is  the  more  to  be  regretted  as 
one  of  the  essays  was  devoted  to  a  pidure  of  colonial 
manners  and  habits,  especially  as  exhibited  by  the  so- 
ciety of  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  In  a  note  he  referred 
to  many  of  the  families  with  whom  he  was  intimate — 
the  Brentons,  Malbones,  Redwoods,  etc.  His  great 
work,  however,  is  that  on  the  Civil  Law,  which  has 
passed  through  various  editions,  and  is  considered  by 
the  profession  as  a  standard. 

"  This  celebrated  man  died  in  Dublin  in  the  summer 
of  1 805,  of  a  dropsical  complaint,  leaving  a  large  pro- 
perty, which  he  had  acquired  from  his  situations  in  the 
College  and  his  exertions  as  a  lawyer."* 
*  Newport  Mercury. 


^TyM/^l^y/'ltye^/ 


chapter  Seventeenth  97 

"Sunday  March  31'''  [1771.]  Mr.  Fayerweather 
Baptized  A  Male  Child  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Na- 
sons,  Son-in-Law  to  Capt.  Benjamin  Jefferson/"^ 
by  the  Name  of  Elisha;  The  Gossips  being 
Mr.  Bovyer/°^  Mrs.  Jefferson,  and  The  Gran 
Father." 

The  following  information  relating  to  this  word  was 
colleded  byAndrew  A.  Harwood,U.S.  N./'°and  may 
be  interesting  to  many: 

"This  word  Gossip  is  frequently  found  in  church 
records.  It  is  used  in  its  old  Saxon  meaning  for  spon- 
sors or  sureties  at  baptism.  This  use  of.the  term  gos- 
sip, as  well  as  the  usage  which  formerly  prevailed  at 
baptisms  of  giving  spoons,  called  y:^cij//^  spoons,  is  re- 
ferred to  in  the  following  extradl  from  Hone's  Every 
Day  Book:*. 

" '  This  is  an  opportunity  for  alluding  to  the  ancient 
English  custom,  with  sponsors,  or  visitors  at  christen- 
ings, of  presenting  spoons,  because  the  figures  of  the 
twelve  apostles  were  chased,  or  carved  upon  the  tops 
of  the  handles.  Brand  cites  several  authors  to  testify 
of  the  pradice.  Persons,  who  could  afford  it,  gave  the 
set  of  twelve,  others  a  smaller  number,  and  a  poor  per- 
son offered  the  gift  of  one,  with  the  figure  of  the  saint 
after  whom  the  child  was  named,  or  to  whom  the  child 
was  dedicated,  or  who  was  the  Patron  Saintof  the  good- 
natured  donor.'  Ben  Jonson,  in  his  Bartholemew's 
Fair,  has  a  character  saying,  'and  all  this  for  the  hope 
of  a  couple  of  Apostles  spoons,  and  a  cup  to  eat  caudle 
in.'  In  the  Chaste  Maid  of  Cheapside,  by  Middleton, 
'  Gossip '  enquires, '  What  has  he  given  her?  what  is  it. 
Gossip?'  Whereto  the  answer  of  another 'Gossip'  is, 
'  Afaire  high  standing  cup  and  two  great 'postle  spoons 
—  one  of  them  gilt.'  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  likewise, 
in  the  Noble  Gentleman  say: 

*Vol.  i.  p.  175. 


98  The  Narragansett  Church 

'/  7/  be  a  gossip,  Bewford, 
I  have  an  odd  apostle  spoon.'' 

"The  rarity  and  antiquity  of  the  apostle  spoons  ren- 
der them  of  considerable  value  as  curiosities,  &c.  (here 
follows  a  description  of  the  weight,  metal,  &c.,  of  the 
spoons).  It  seems  from  'The  Gossip,  a  poem  by  Ship- 
man  in  1666,  that  the  usage  of  giving  apostle  spoons 
at  christenings  was  at  that  time  on  the  decline. 

^■Formerly  when  they  used  to  trowl 
Gilt  bowls  of  sack,  they  gave  the  bowl 
Two  spoons  at  least;  an  use  ill  kept, 
'  Tis  well  if  now  our  own  be  left  J 

"An  anecdote  is  related  of  Shakespeare  and  Ben 
Jonson,  which  bears  upon  the  usage.  Shakespeare  was 
godfather  to  one  of  Jonson's  children,  and  after  the 
christening,  being  in  deep  study,  Jonson  cheeringly 
asked  him  why  he  was  so  melancholy.  *Ben,'  said  he, 
*  I  have  been  considering  a  great  while  what  should  be 
the  fittest  gift  for  me  to  bestow  upon  my  god-child,  and 
I  have  resolved  it  at  last.'  'I  pray  thee,  what?'  said 
Ben.  T  faith,  Ben,'  answered  Shakespeare,  'I  '11  give 
him  a  dozen  good  latten  spoons,  and  thou  shalt  trans- 
late them.'  The  word  latten,  intended  as  a  play  upon 
thewordZ.«//«,is  a  namefor  theiron  tinned — ofwhich 
spoons  and  similar  small  articles  of  household  use  are 
sometimes  made.  Without  being  aware  of  the  origin, 
it  is  still  a  custom  with  many  persons  to  present  spoons 
at  christenings,  or  on  visiting  *the  lady  in  the  straw,' 
though  they  are  not  now  adorned  with  imagery. 

"There  is  another  ancient  usage  of  which  many  peo- 
ple now  may  not  understand  the  meaning.  On  our  old 
church  and  town  records,  as  well  as  in  Bible  and  fa- 
mily registers,  will  be  found  recorded  not  only  the  day 
of  a  child's  birth,  but  also  the  hour  and  precise  mo- 
ment. The  pradiice  grew  out  of  the  prevalence  of  as- 
trological notions.  It  was  to  enable  the  astrologers  to 


chapter  Seventeenth  99 

calculate  the  nativity  of  the  person.  As  in  many  other 
cases,  the  usage  has  remained,  while  the  reason  of  it 
is  forgotten." 

"In  advent  Mr  F  Preached  for  the  Rev'  Mr 
Bisset^°''  In  Newport  by  Ernest  Desire"  &c. 

"On  the  25^^  of  December  [1771]  Christmas 
Mr.  F — Attended  Trinity  Church  Nev^port  And 
Communicated  At  the  altar.^"  Above  200  Mem- 
bers present." 

"On the 9""  [January,  1772]  MrF  —  Received 
a  Letter  from  the  Church  Wardens  (of  New- 
port) to  Attend  As  a  Paul  bearer  to  the  Rev"* 
Mr  Keith  ^"  his  old  Friend  and  Once  his  Pre- 
decessor in  George  Town  South  Carolina — And 
to  preach  a  Funeral  Sermon  On  Sunday  Morn- 
ing On  the  Occasion  Which  he  Did  the  Very 
day  After  the  Interment  In  Trinity  Church  New- 
port, to  a  full  Auditory." 

"On  the  16*  April  [1772]  Thursday  Evening 
In  Presence  of  Many  Witnesses  Mr  F  Married 
Mr  Sylvester  Sweet  ^'^  to  Miss  Martha  Whailey 
of  Narraganset  —  After  a  Regular  Publication  of 
Bands,  As  the  Law  Dire6ts,  The  Bride  being 
Given  Away  by  her  Father  Jeremiah  Whailey^''* 
One  of  the  Descendants  of  old  Col  Whailey  Who 
Came  Away  from  Great  Britain  On  being  One 
of  the  Regicides,  of  King  Charles  the  first  of 
Ever  blessed  Memory,  and  Who  Sat  in  the  Mock 
Court  Before  WhichThat  ExcellentPrince,That 
Blessed  Martyr  Was  Arraign'd  and  Tried  and 
Condemned,  and  Who  Was  Called  proverbially 
(in  the  Day  of  it)  One  of  King  Charles'  s  fudges. '' 


100        The  Narragansett  Church 

Who  this  Mr.  Whailey  really  was  is  still  shrouded 
in  mystery.  Until  Dr. StWes's^^'^ Hislory  of  f/ie  Judges^'^^ 
appeared,  there  never  had  existed  any  doubt  in  Rhode 
Island,  and  particularly  in  Narragansett,  that  the 
Whailey  who  lived  in  concealment,  at  the  head  of  the 
Pettaquamscutt  Ponds  in  Narragansett,  was  the  real 
Colonel  Whailey,  one  of  the  regicide  judges,  with  the 
change  of  the  Christian  name  of  Theophilus  for  Ed- 
ward. His  children  and  descendants  believed  it,  and 
those  now  living  believe  it,  and  are  confident  of  the 
fad.  Hutchinson,  in  his  History  of  Massachusetts^  states 
that  the  regicides  lived  upon  remittances  annually  sent 
them  by  their  friends  in  England ;  and  Colonel  Willet"' 
— on  the  western  borders  of  whose  farm  (the  farm  now 
occupied  by  Willet  Carpenter,  Esq.,^^°'  5^'  the  descend- 
ant of  Colonel  Willet),  Whailey  had  built  his  hut — 
says,  that  annually  Mr.  Sewall^''  and  other  gentlemen 
came  from  Boston  to  his  house,  and  would  send  for 
Whailey  and  privately  confer  with  him,  and  after  they 
left,  Whailey  would  have  plenty  of  money.  That  in 
Queen  Anne's  war,  Colonel  Willet — who  was  educated 
a  merchant  and  had  retired  from  business,  and  was  a 
man  of  information  and  reading — told  Dr.  Stiles  that 
a  ship  of  war  anchored  opposite  the  farm  where  Whailey 
lived,  and  a  captain  of  the  same  name  made  him  a  visit, 
and  they  recognized  each  other  with  the  affedion  of 
kindred. The  captain  invited  him  on  board,  but  Whailey 
negleded  to  go,  for  fear  it  was  a  snare  laid  to  take  him. 
That  he  never  would  disclose  to  any  one  his  history. 
Further,  that  he  had  a  University  education,  and  was 
a  fine  Hebrew,  Greek,  and  Latin  scholar;  and,  when 
he  died,  he  was  buried  with  the  honours  of  war.  The 
conclusion  of  Dr.  Stiles  is,  that  the  Whailey  men- 
tioned by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fayerweather  was  neither  Ge- 
neral Whailey  nor  General  Goffe,  the  regicide  judges; 
but  that  Theophilus  Whailey,  of  Narragansett,  was  an 
officer  in  the  Parliamentary  wars  and  through  the  Pro- 


chapter  Seventeenth  loi 

tedlorate.  "One  of  the  same  family  of  the  Judge  was 
LieutenantWhailey,who  served  in  Hacker's  regiment. 
Hacker,  who,  though  not  a  judge,  yet  commanded 
at  the  execution  of  the  King,  was  himself  executed  in 
1660.  And  Goffe's  journal  mentions  Robert  Whailey 
(supposing  Theophilus),  then  in  Hacker's  regiment, 
and  a6tive  at  the  King's  execution,  he  might  be  in  dan- 
ger, and  so  fled  to  escape  from  vengeance  "  [?] .  After 
the  death  of  Whailey,  about  1670,  General  Goffe  left 
Hadley,  and  went  westward  towards  Virginia;  and  as 
Theophilus  Whailey  appeared  in  Narragansett  short- 
ly after  from  Virginia,  Governor  Hutchinson  conjec- 
tured he  might  be  General  Goffe,  but  was  unable  to 
procure  satisfadory  evidence  for  this  conclusion. 

That  learned  and  indefatigable  antiquarian,  Presi- 
dent Stiles,  who  spent  thirty  years  of  his  life  in  col- 
lecting the  materials  of  his  history,  has  brought  to 
light  all  the  fadls,  circumstances,  and  traditions  that 
could  have  been  obtained;  but  such  was  the  designed 
obscurity  that  attended  every  movement  of  the  exiles, 
that  to  obtain  anything  definite  was  impossible;  and 
after  collecting  and  arranging  all  his  materials,  he  leaves 
every  reader  to  judge  for  himself.  The  only  evidence 
of  the  debility  of  Whailey  from  age,  and  finally  of  his 
death,  is  gathered  from  the  letters  of  Goffe  to  his  wife; 
and,  if  conjecture  is  to  have  any  weight,  might  not  these 
statements  have  been  feigned  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
cealing the  escape  of  Whailey  with  Goffe?  On  the 
other  handjit  is  strange  that  Major  Richard  Smith,"'  ^'s 
who  was  an  officer  in  Cromwell's  wars,  and  assisted  in 
establishing  the  Protectorate,  and  in  the  time  of  Rich- 
ard Cromwell  fled  to  his  father's  residence  in  North 
Kingstown, and  resided  within  seven  milesof  Whailey, 
and  died  in  1692,  never  associated  with  or  even  men- 
tioned anything  of  him,  when,  from  circumstances, 
they  must  have  been  connected  in  the  same  common 
cause.  In  addition  to  all  this,  it  is  singular  that  Dr. 


102        The  Narragansett  Church 

MacSparran/'^  whose  farm  was  within  one  mile  of 
Whailey's  residence,  and  who  was  also  intimate  with 
Colonel  Willet,and  a  near  relative  by  marriage,  should 
never  have  mentioned  in  all  his  correspondence  some- 
thing about  this  extraordinary  man. 

Colonel  Whailey,  when  advanced  in  age,  moved  to 
West  Greenwich,  and  resided  on  a  farm  ^'^  he  had  pre- 
viously purchased.  "The  assignment  on  the  deed, 
dated  February,  171 1,  was  in  his  own  handwriting," 
and  Dr.  Stiles  says,  "  This  was  the  first  certain  writing 
of  Theophilus  Whailey  which  I  had  seen."  It  was 
presumed  that  if  this  instrument  could  have  been  ob- 
tained and  sent  to  someone  in  London,  a  comparison 
of  hands  would  settle  the  question  whether  it  was  the 
handwriting  of  the  real  regicidejudge,  or  whose  it  was. 
As  an  antiquarian  fa6l,  it  was  worthy  of  attention. 
On  the  3d  of  July,  1 843,  the  writer  went  to  the  resi- 
dence of  the  late  Judge  Whailey,  now  in  the  posses- 
sion of  one  of  his  descendants,  and  examined  the  old 
title  deeds,  and  they  were  all  there,  except  the  one 
mentioned  by  Dr.  Stiles.  Mrs.  Hopkins,  then  over 
eighty  years  old,  stated  that  the  deed  missing  was  lent 
by  the  late  Judge  Hopkins,^'^  grandson  of  Judge 
Whailey,  to  Dr.  Stiles,  for  the  purpose  of  examination 
and  comparison,  and  that  he  promised  to  return  it,  or 
leave  it  with  Governor  Green  ^''^  for  them.  Another 
member  of  the  family  said  he  understood  that  the  deed 
had  been  left  by  Dr.  Stiles  with  Governor  Green  as 
he  promised,  but  that  they  never  went  there  for  it. 
Governor  Green  and  Judge  Hopkins  havingdiedlong 
ago,  and  Mr.  Ward,^'*^  who  is  possessed  of  Governor 
Green's  papers,  not  being  able  to  find  it,  it  is  now  lost. 

The  aged  Mrs.  Hopkins,  above  referred  to,  ob- 
served that  she  well  recolleded  Dr.  Stiles's  visit  at 
Judge  Hopkins's,  at  the  house  where  Whailey  died; 
that  he  rode  in  a  gig,  wore  a  wig  and  spedlacles,  and 
told  them  he  should  try  to  have  a  monument  eredled 


chapter  Seventeenth  103 

over  the  grave  of  Whailey,  who  was  buried  on  his  farm 
on  Hopkins  Hill,  in  West  Greenwich,  now  owned 
by  Gideon  Hopkins,  a  descendant  of  Whailey,  The 
grave  is  near  the  highway  ''"'  that  leads  from  Wash- 
ington Fadtory  to  the  Ten  Rod  road,  and  so  near  the 
fence  that  you  can  see  it,  sitting  in  your  carriage.  The 
grave  is  a  very  long  one,  lying  north  and  south,  with 
stones,  but  no  inscription."  He  was  a  large  tall  man,  six 
feet  high  when  an  lOO  years  old,  and  then  walked  up- 
right; not  fat,  but  thin  and  lathy;  was  103  when  he 
died."  ^^° 

"Mr  F.  On  the  7"*  of  June  [1772]  having  Re- 
ceived Two  or  three  Distinft  letters  from  an 
Ancient  and  truly  Hon'ble  Society  in  Boston  to 
Preach  to  them  On  a  Particular  and  Laudable 
Occasion  Sat  Out  On  the  Eighth  Day  of  the 
month  for  the  purpose,  taking  Warw^ick  and 
Providence  in  his  way  and  Officiating  at  both 
those  places  by  Desire  of  the  Re  v*^  Mr  Greaves,"" 
from  Which  two  jiocks  he  Gained  a  most  Serious 
and  An  Attentive  Audience.  But  the  Occasion  of 
Mr  Fs  Journey  to  Boston  Was  to  Celebrate  the 
Festival  of  Saint  John  and  Adapt  a  Discourse 
Immediately  to  that  Occasion  and  to  that  Day 
observed  throughout  Christendom,  which  he 
Did  at  Christ' s  Church  of  Which  The  Reverend 
Do6tor  Mather  Byles  ^"the  Pastor  Read  Prayers 
On  the  Occasion,  Where  Was  the  Most  Bril- 
liant and  Splendid  As  Well  as  Numerous  As- 
sembly ...  in  that  large  and  Populous  Town. 
After  Divine  Service  A  Grand  Procession  from 
the  Church  follow'd  With  all  the  Grand  Of- 
ficers Cloathed  and  Adorned  with  their  Robes 


104        The  Narragansett  Church 

and  Jewels  to  illustrate  the  Splendour  and  Mag- 
nificence of  the  Day  and  Do  honour  To  Saint 
John  the  Baptist  Who  both  by  Precept  and  Ex- 
ample Ever  Inculcated  the  Christian  Dodlrine 
With  Emphasis  'Of  loving  One  Another.' '" 
This  Celebration  Was  On  the  24'*"  Day  of  June 
1772." 

"  [June]  28"  [1772]  Mr  F  officiated  in  Kings 
Chappel  for  the  Rev''  Dr  Caner,^'*'*  and  for  the 
Rev'  Mr.  Walter  ^'^  Trinity  Church  Boston." 

"July  1 8''  [  1 772]  Mr.  F  Sat  Out  from  Boston 
on  his  Return  home  by  the  Way  of  Tauntoun'""* 
And  Administered  there  the  Sacred  Ordinance 
of  Baptism  To  A  Male  Child  of  Mr.  James  Hill 
Merchant  and  Grand  Child  of  the  late  Rev' 
Do<5lor  SewaF^^  A  Dissenting  Teacher  In  Bos- 
ton, Whose  Zeal  Was  always  Remarkably  Dis- 
tinguished Against  the  Church  of  England,  par- 
ticularly her  Forms  and  Ceremonies,  and  that  in 
Special  As  to  the  Rite  of  Baptism.  The  ordi- 
nance Was  performed  At  Colonel  White's  in 
Taunton.  The  Sponsors  Were  Mr  Hill  and  Wife 
the  Child's  Natural  Parents,  and  Aunt,  And  the 
Name  of  the  little  Infantile  Was  yames  After 
its  Father's  Name." 

"[December  13,  1772]  In  the  Evening  of 
Said  Day  Mr.  F  being  Sent  for  at  Capt  Samuel 
Gardners^^^  He  Married  Mr.  John  Gardner  Son 
of  the  late  John  Gardner  Esq^^^  of  Boston  Neck 
(So  Distinguished)  to  Miss  Sarah  Gardner  Eld- 
est Daughter  of  Samuel  Whom  he  had  before 
Published  three  Distinct  times  As  the  Law  of  the 


Chapl 


>ter  Seventeenth  105 

Colony  Direfts  ;  The  Bride  Was  Given  Away  by 
her  Father  about  half  An  hour  After  4  o  Clock 
in  the  Presence  of  Sundry  Witnesses." 

John  Gardiner'"^  was  thesonof  John,and  the  grand- 
son of  William  Gardiner,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Narragansett.  Colonel  Gardiner  was  an  accomplished 
gentleman  of  the  old  school,  and  of  popular  manners. 
He  early  rose  into  public  favour,  and  was  an  adive  whig 
in  the  Revolution.  Hewaseleded  representative  to  the 
General  Assembly  from  South  Kingstown,  his  native 
town,  for  the  years  1786-7,  by  the  Paper  Money  party. 
In  1788  and  1789,  he  was  elefted  by  the  popular  vote 
of  the  State  a  delegate  to  the  Confederated  Congress, 
but  did  not  take  his  seat  in  that  body.  Colonel  Gar- 
diner inherited  the  patrimonial  estate  of  his  ancestors, 
the  farm""^"  next  south  of  the  South  Ferry,  containing 
five  hundred  acres,  reputed  the  most  fertile  trad  in 
Narragansett.  He  died  in  06tober,  1808,  aged  sixty- 
one —  his  wife  survived  him  some  years.  They  left  seven 
children  :(i)  Sarah,  married  Thomas  Jenkins, of  Hud- 
son, New  York,  issue.  (2)  Robert,  was  some  years 
United  States  Consul  in  Sweden  —  he  married  a  Miss 
Day,  of  Catskill,  New  York,  lost  at  sea — no  issue.  (3) 
John  and  (4)  William  died  single.  (5)  Emma  married 
Philo  Day,  and  (6)  Harriet  married  Russell  Day,  both 
of  Catskill.  (7)  Sylvester,  now  living^'5,230  Ijig^yj. 

"On  the  Sixth  of  September  [1773]  Mr  F  — 
Journeyed  to  Boston  to  Attend  the  Annual  Con- 
vention Of  the  Reverend  Episcopal  Clergy  — 
And  the  2^  Wednesday  Which  Was  the  Eighth 
day  of  the  Month  in  Sept'  We  Met ;  and  be- 
fore the  Convention  The  Rev"*  Mr  Winslow'"' 
preached  from  these  Words  ^  It  is  Good  to  be 
Zealously  AffeBed  in  a  Good  Cause. ^ " 


io6        The  Narragansett  Church 

"The  Reverend  Convention  having  been  Ap- 
plied to  from  the  Church  of  England  At  Ports- 
mouth^''^ New  Hampshire  in  their  Destitute 
State  being  Deprived  of  their  Worthy  Pastor 
The  Rev'  Mr  Browne ^°'  to  be  Supplied  with 
Preaching,  They  Agreed  to  Supply  them  Six 
Sundays,  Provided  Mr  F  —  would  Consent  to  As- 
sist them  As  One  of  the  Six,  And  to  take  the  first 
for  his  Choice  :  Accordingly  by  the  desire  of  the 
Reverend  Convention  then  Met  at  Dr.  Caner's 
House ^'*'*  Mr  F  —  Sot  off  from  Boston  Friday 
the  I  o*'' of  Sep'' And  Preached  In  Portsmouth 
Church,  which  He  found  to  be  a  Small  but  A  Gay 
and  Shining  Congregation  in  Respe6t  to  Dress 
and  Appearance.  In  his  Way  thither  through 
the  falls  of  Newbury,  He  offered  a  Young  Gen- 
tleman As  A  Pupil  One  of  his  Neighbours  Sons 
from  his  Parish  In  the  Narraganset  Country, 
To  t/ie  Dummer  School  A  Most  Charitable  foun- 
dation of  the  Late  Lieutenant  Governor  Dum- 
mer,"' Boston,  Mr.  Samuel  Moody  ^^^  xhe  Pre- 
ceptor or  Master  kindly  accepted  him." 

"On  the  14""  of  September  [1774]  the  2^ 
Wednesday  in  the  Month  Mr.  F—  Met  the 
Reverend  Convention  of  Episcopal  Clergy  In 
Boston,  Went  to  Kings  Chappel  and  heard  The 
Rev*^  Mr  Ssargeant ''^°  of  Cambridge  preach  from 
those  Words  If  ye  know  these  things  happy  Are 
Te  if  Te  Do  them;  The  General  [Gage]  present 
And  Din  d  With  the  Clergy  at  Dr.  Caners  and 
19  Clergymen  present.  The  15'''  Convention  of 
the  Clergy  at  Dr  Caners  house  Sot  again,  And 


Chapter  Seventeenth  107 

Unanimously  Made  Choice  Of  the  Rev'  Mr 
F  —  to  be  their  Preacher  On  the  2**  Wednesday 
in  the  next  September,  1775,  And  the  Rev'''  Mr 
Bailey"'  to  Read  Prayers  On  that  Annual  And 
Much  to  be  Esteemed  Occasion." 

"On  Sunday  16^  past  Trinity  and  18"  of  the 
Month  September  Mr  F  —  Preached  At  Kings 
Chappel  for  the  Kings  Chaplin  The  Rev  Mr 
Troutbeck/°^  before  General  Gage  and  his  Offi- 
cers at  Boston  and  before  A  very  Numerous  and 
Polite  Assembly  from  those  Words  Be  kindly  af- 
feSiioned  one  toward  Another  in  Brotherly  Love.'' 

"On  the  2'  of  Oaober  [1774]  The  Rev'  Mr 
Parker  Assistant  Minister  To  the  Rev'  Mr  Wal- 
ter ^'^  at  Trinity  Church  Boston  Preach'd  at  St 
Pauls  Narraganset  by  a  proposal  of  An  Ex- 
change &c." 

"On  the  23'of  Oaober  the  Rev'  Mr  William 
Clark"'  of  Dedham  Exchanged  with  Mr  F  — 
and  Preach'd  in  St  Pauls  Narraganset." 

"  'The  Evergreen  contains  an  interesting  sketch  of  the 
life  of  Bishop  Parker,  the  second  Bishop  of  Massa- 
chusetts, the  materials  of  which  are  taken  chiefly  from 
'The  Gospel  Advocate  ^'^'^  formerly  published  in  this  city, 
and  the  funeral  sermon  preached  at  the  interment  of 
the  Bishop,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gardiner.^'*^ 

"Dr.  Parker  ^^'*  was  born  in  Portsmouth  in  1 744,  or- 
dained in  London  in  1774,  having  been  previously  ap- 
pointed assistant  minister  of  Trinity  Church  upon  the 
Greene  Foundation,  and  entering  upon  his  duties  on 
his  return  from  England;  was  appointed  redor  of  the 
same  church  in  1779,  and  succeeded  Bishop  Bass^^°'^^^ 
in  the  Episcopate  in  1804.  He  died  three  months 
after  his  consecration,  and  before  he  had  performed 


io8        The  Narragansett  Church 

any  Episcopal  services.  'As  a  clergyman  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  Bishop  Parker  was  equalled  by  few.  He 
read  with  propriety  and  impressive  solemnity  our  ex- 
cellent Liturgy,  and  performed  all  the  ordinances  of 
religion  in  a  manner  best  calculated  to  impress  the 
heart  with  their  importance.  In  the  pulpit,  his  voice 
was  clear  and  sonorous,  and  his  delivery  energetic; 
nor,  when  occasion  required,  was  he  ignorant  of  that 
touching  pathos  which  moves  the  strings  of  sensibil- 
ity. His  discourses  were  serious  and  solid,  explaining 
some  important  dod:rine,  or  enforcing  some  moral 
virtue.  He  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  necessity 
of  inculcating  the  essential  do6lrines  of  Christianity, 
which  peculiarly  distinguish  it  from  other  religions, 
and  from  a  mere  system  of  ethics.  The  Divinity  of  the 
Saviour,  the  do6lrine  of  the  Atonement,  and  faith  in 
the  Holy  Trinity,  were,  he  conceived,  essential  parts 
in  the  Christian  system. 

"'In  his  person.  Dr.  Parker  was  tall,  robust,  eredl, 
and  well  proportioned;  cheerful  in  disposition,  and 
amiable  in  deportment.  As  a  husband  and  parent,  lov- 
ing and  beloved,  he  enjoyed,  for  many  years,  the  en- 
dearments of  domestic  life,  amidst  his  large  family, and 
surrounded  by  very  numerous  friends,  industriously 
spending  his  time  in  the  alternate  discharge  of  per- 
sonal and  parochial  duties,  in  the  performance  of  the 
latter  of  which,  he  was  always  remarkably  distin- 
guished. We  may,  perhaps,  safely  conclude,  that  his 
highest  style  of  excellence  was  in  that  most  respedla- 
ble,  most  honourable,  and  most  useful  charadler,  a  con- 
scientious Parish  Priest.' "  * 


The  Christian  Witness. 


Chapter  XVIII 

A.  D.  1774  to  A.  D.    1840 

The  Close  of  Mr.  Fayerweather  s  Ministry  in  Nar- 
ragansett.  His  Death  and  Burial.  His  Will  and  the 
Disposition  of  his  Books  and  Figures.  The  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Smith.  The  Rev.  Walter  C.  Gardiner.  The  Rev. 
foseph  Warren.  The  Removal  of  St.  FauPs  Church 
to  Wickford.  The  Later  ReBors  of  the  Farish. 

SUNDAY,  November  6,  1774,  is  the  last  en- 
try''" made  by  Mr.  Fayerweather  on  the 
Parish  Record.  The  controversy  between  the 
Colonies  and  the  Mother  Country  had  at  this 
period  assumed  a  serious  aspeft.  The  majority  of 
the  society  of  which  Mr.  Fayerweather  was  pas- 
tor being  whigs,  they  objefted  to  the  use  of  the 
prayers  for  the  King  and  Royal  Family,  and  for 
the  success  of  His  Majesty's  arms.  He  felt  that 
he  could  not  conscientiously  dispense  with  them 
without  a  violation  of  his  ordination  vows,^^^  al- 
though he  was  personally  esteemed  as  a  friend 
of  the  American  cause.  The  church  was  conse- 
quently closed.  He  occasionally  preached  at  pri- 
vate houses"^  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
the  summer  of  1781.  He  was  buried  under  the 
Communion  Table  of  St.  Paul's  beside  the  corpse 
of  Dr.  MacSparran. 

Mr.  Fayerweather  was  popular  in  his  parish. 
He  was  an  able  and  industrious  preacher,^^^  and 
left  several  manuscript  volumes  of  sermons, 
which  are  reputed,  by  those  who  have  perused 


no        The  Narragansett  Church 

them,  to  be  productions  of  talent  and  piety.  He 
read  the  Church  Service  with  great  effeft,  and 
those  who  have  survived  him  speak  of  the  solem- 
nity and  pathos  with  which  he  performed  those 
devotions  as  impressing  them  even  to  this  day. 

We  close  the  ministry  of  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Fayerweather/^^  by  transcribing  the  following 
item  from  his  will: 

"I  give  all  my  library  and  books  to  King's 
[now  Columbia]  College,  New  York,  and  ten 
pounds  sterling,  and  my  large  picture  of  myself. 
And  my  desire  is,  that  the  corporation  may  suf- 
fer said  picture  to  be  hung  up  in  the  library- 
room  of  said  College  forever.  —  Also,  my  silver- 
framed  square  pi6ture  ^'*°  of  myself,  to  my  sister 
Hannah  Winthrop,"^  of  Cambridge.  My  wife's 
picture  of  herself,  to  her  niece,  the  wife  of  John 
Channing.^'*'  My  oval  pi6ture  of  myself  framed 
with  silver,  to  my  nephew,  John  Winthrop,"^ 
of  Boston,  merchant." 

The  executor  of  his  will, Matthew  Robinson, 
Esq.,^''^'^^'*  received  Mr.  Fayerweather's  effects, 
and  being  aged  and  infirm,  neglected  the  injunc- 
tions of  the  testator.  He  died  ten  years  afterwards 
at  an  advanced  age,  and  insolvent,  and  the  pictures 
bequeathed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fayerweather  were 
sold  at  auction  as  Mr.  Robinson's  property,  there 
not  being  any  legatees  or  friends  in  this  quarter 
to  claim  them.  The  large  pi6ture  painted  by 
Copley"^'''*'' in  his  academical  honours  at  Oxford, 
is  now  in  my  house;  the  others  were  in  the  town 
some  few  years  since.  His  library  was  also  sold 
and  is  now  lost,  except  a  few  volumes  in  the  pos- 


chapter  Eighteenth  m 

session  of  the  church  in  Narragansett. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Fayerweather,  while  redlor, 
baptized  forty-five  persons.'''*^ 

The  Church  of  St.  Paul's  was  used  during  the 
Revolutionary  war  as  a  barrack  for  the  Ameri- 
can soldiery,  and  the  Parish  Record  contains  no 
entry  from  1 774  to  March,  1 784,  when  it  would 
seem  nine  persons  met  together,  and  a  commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  invite  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fogg,^'*'* 
the  reftor  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Pomfret, 
in  Conne6ticut,  to  become  the  pastor  of  said  par- 
ish. Mr.  Fogg  declined  the  invitation.  The  so- 
ciety did  not  meet  again  until  July,  1787,  when 
the  Rev.  William  Smith,^"*^  upon  invitation,  ac- 
cepted the  rectorship.  Mr.  Smith  officiated  here 
until  January,  1790.  During  his  residence  he  bap- 
tized thirty-seven  persons. 

William  Smith  was  by  birth  a  Scotchman,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  one  of  the  Universities  of  his 
native  country.  The  history  of  his  early  life  is  of  course 
lost  to  us,  and  we  only  know  that  he  was  studious  in 
his  youth,  and  left  College  with  the  reputation  of  an 
excellent  scholar.  He  came  to  this  country  as  an  or- 
dained minister,  in  1785,  and,  soon  after  his  arrival, 
assumed  the  charge  of  Stepney  parish,  in  the  State 
of  Maryland.  On  the  7th  of  July,  1787,  he  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  redor  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Nar- 
ragansett, where  he  continued  to  officiate  until  the 
28th  of  January,  1790,  when  he  left,  having  accepted 
the  re6lorship  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport.  He  was 
instrumental  in  organizing  the  Church  in  Rhode  Is- 
land, and  preached,  at  the  first  Episcopal  Convention 
held  in  this  State,  in  November,  1790,  a  sermon, 
which  was  printed  and  is  now  extant. 


112        The  Narragansett  Church 

In  a  note  appended  to  Mr.  Ross's  century  sermon, 
delivered  at  Newport,  in  183  8,  speaking  of  Dr.  Smith, 
the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Wheaton,'"*^red;or  of  Trinity  Church, 
said:  "Had  Mr.  Smith's  prudence  been  equal  to  his 
talents  and  learning,  he  might,  with  the  Divine  bless- 
ing, have  been  instrumental  in  healing  the  unhappy 
divisions  among  his  people,  and  restoring  the  Church 
to  its  former  prosperity.  The  time,  however,  had  not 
come  for  the  Church  to  rise  from  her  depression,  and 
put  on  the  garments  of  glory  and  beauty.  Mr.  Smith's 
pastoral  charge  in  Newport  terminated  April  1 2, 1 797, 
when  he  informed  the  congregation  that  he  had  ac- 
cepted the  call  of  the  Church  at  Norwalk,  Connedi- 
cut.  He  embarked  with  his  family  to  enter  on  his  new 
charge."  The  Rev.  Mr.  Beardsley,^'*^  in  his  Historical 
Discourse ditYwQXQd at  Cheshire,  says : "  I  n  the  spring  of 
1797,  Mr.  Smith  took  charge  of  St.  Paul's  at  Norwalk. 
An  unhappy  disagreement  arisingbetween  him  and  his 
people  in  regard  to  the  permanency  of  a  settlement, 
he  relinquished  the  parish  in  1800,  and  went  to  New 
York.  He  opened  a  grammar  school  in  that  city,  and, 
acquiring  the  reputation  of  an  able  teacher,  he  was 
seleded  as  the  successor  of  Dr.  Bowden/'*^  as  principal 
of  the  Episcopal  Academy  of  Conne6licut,  in  1802, 
and  entered  upon  his  duties  in  the  spring  of  that 
year.  He  resigned  his  office  of  principal  of  the  insti- 
tution in  1 806,  and  left  Cheshire  and  returned  to  New 
York,  and  the  remainder  of  his  days  were  passed  be- 
tween that  city  and  Connecticut.  He  had  no  perma- 
nent cure,  though  he  officiated  for  several  years  in  the 
parishes  of  Milford  and  West  Haven.  He  occupied 
his  time  principally  in  writing  on  theological  subjefts, 
and  was  the  author  of  a  series  of  essays  on  the  Chris- 
tian ministry,  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Blatchford, 
a  Congregational  divine,  who  had  an  especial  dislike 
of  Episcopacy.  He  compiled  and  published  a  book  of 
chants,  and  a  large  work  in  the  form  of  dissertations 


chapter  Eighteenth  113 

on  primitive  psalmody,  designed  to  sliow  the  impro- 
priety of  singing  metre  psalms  in  public  worship,  and 
the  wisdom  of  returning  to  the  ancient  practice  of  chant- 
ing. After  a  life  chequered  by  much  trouble  and  suf- 
fering, he  died  in  New  York,  April  6,  1 821,  in  the 
sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age.  At  one  period  of  his  minis- 
try. Dr.  Smith  enjoyed,  in  an  eminent  degree,  the  con- 
fidence of  his  brethren.  Great  respect  was  paid  to  his 
opinion  and  learning.  His  intimate  acquaintance  with 
ecclesiastical  history  and  his  accurate  retention  of 
knowledge,  enabled  him,  on  all  occasions,  to  give  with 
readiness  a  full  and  instru6live  answer  to  any  question 
in  the  line  of  his  profession.  One  memento  of  his  gen- 
ius is  to  be  found  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer.  The 
Office  of  Institution  of  Ministers  into  Parishes  or  Churches, 
was  the  production  of  his  pen.  He  prepared  it  at  the 
request  of  the  Annual  Convention  for  1799,  and  pre- 
sented it  in  form  to  the  convocation  of  the  clergy  in 
Derby,  in  Connecticut,  November  25th  of  the  same 
year^  by  whom  it  was  adopted  under  the  title  of  the 
Office  of  Indu£iion^  and  ordered  to  be  printed.  It  was 
prescribed  by  the  General  Convention  of  1804,  and 
finally  established  by  the  Convention  of  1808,  the 
name  being  changed  from  Induction  to  Institution  and 
its  use  made  to  depend  upon  recommendation  and  not 
upon  requisition.  Dr.  Smith  had  a  great  fondness  for 
preaching  extemporaneously,and(exceptinghis  Scotch 
accent)  he  was  always  interesting  and  instructive,  and 
frequently  eloquent.  His  remarkable  colloquial  powers 
made  him  an  agreeable  companion  —  the  rapidity  of 
his  thoughts  oftentimes  being  as  surprising  as  it  was 
felicitous.  He  possessed  a  singular  versatility  of  tal- 
ents, and  was  both  a  theologian  and  a  scholar,  a  com- 
poser of  church  music,  and  a  constructor  of  church 
organs;  and,  but  for  the  peculiarity  of  his  tempera- 
ment and  the  infirmity  of  his  constitution,  he  might 
have  been  more  useful  in  his  day  and  generation." 


114        The  Narragansett  Church 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Society  of  St.  Paul's  in 
April,  1791/''^  Walter  C.  Gardiner "°  was  ap- 
pointed lay  reader.  He  afterwards  became  re6lor 
of  the  church,  and  continued  as  such  until  the 
year  1794,  after  which  the  Rev.  Joseph  War- 
ren ''^^  was  elected  reftor,  and  officiated  until  the 
autumn  of  1805. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Society,  on  the  third  day 
of  December,  1799,  while  the  Rev.  Mr.  War- 
ren was  pastor,  it  was  voted,  nine  to  two,  to  re- 
move the  edifice  of  St.  Paul's  from  the  site  where 
it  was  originally  erefted,  in  1707,  five  miles 
further  north,  to  the  village  of  Wickford.  It 
was  also  voted  to  build  a  new  church  on  the  site 
given  by  Dr.  MacSparran  for  that  purpose,  on 
MacSparran  Hill,  so  called,  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  part  of  the  parish  residing  in 
South  Kingstown,  and  that  the  reftor  preach 
alternately  in  Wickford  and  South  Kingstown. 
The  church  edifice  was  removed  to  Wickford,^^' 
where  it  now  stands,  but  none  was  ever  built  on 
the  lot  given  by  Dr.  MacSparran.  The  site  on 
which  the  old  church  stood,  and  the  burial- 
ground  attached,  where  the  ashes  of  so  many  of 
its  members  repose,  still  belong  to  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

Mr.  Isaac  B.  Peirce,"'  of  Newport,  was  chosen 
lay  reader  of  St.  Paul's,  in  Wickford,  and  offi- 
ciated in  that  character  from  1809  to  18 13. The 
Rev.  James  Bowers''^'*  was  elected  re6lor  of  the 
same  church  in  1812,  and  continued  to  perform 
services  in  the  parish,  but  mostly  in  the  south  por- 
tion, until  the  year  18 14.  The  church  remained 


K^A^-^^M^-fry  ^ytyy*'y<ryi  ^/f/i9^ri^4^/n-^j^/^ 


Chapter  Eighteenth  115 

vacant  until  18 17,  when  Lemuel  Burge^"  was 
chosen  lay  reader,  and  officiated  for  two  years. 
The  parish  was  then  supplied  by  the  Rev.  Pat- 
rick H.  Folker/^^for  about  one  year.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Burge  having  obtained  orders,  returned  and 
continued  re6lor  from  May,  1 82o,to  Easter,  1834. 
The  church  at  Tower  Hill  in  South  Kingstown 
having  been  built  while  Mr.  Burge  was  lay  read- 
er, and  consecrated  in  November,  1 8 1 8,  he  per- 
formed services  in  the  North  Kingstown  and 
South  Kingstown  churches  alternately.  In  June, 
1834,  the  Rev.  Francis  Peck"'  became  reftor, 
and  continued  to  officiate  up  to  September,  1836. 
In  1837,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Burge  was  again  elefted 
reftor,  and  officiated  until  Easter,  1 840,  when,  on 
account  of  ill  health,  he  resigned.  In  the  August 
succeeding,  the  Rev.  John  H.  Rouse'^^  was  eleft- 
ed  re6tor,  and  now  [1846]  remains  the  incum- 
bent of  St.  Paul's,  at  Wickford,  in  North  Kings- 
town, the  parish  having  been  divided  in  the  year 
1832.  Since  the  division,  services  have  been  per- 
formed in  the  Wickford  andTower  Hill  churches 
by  their  respective  pastors,  as  separate  parishes. 

[The  Rev.  Mr.  Rouse  continued  in  the  re6tor- 
ship  until  1849.  He  was  followed,  in  the  same 
year,  by  the  Rev.  Daniel  Henshaw,  who  re- 
mained until  1853.  T^^^  Rev.  A.  B.  Flanders  was 
reftor  from  1854  to  1866,  being  absent,  however, 
from  September,  1861,  to  November,  1862,  as 
chaplain  of  the  Fourth  Rhode  Island  Regiment, 
the  Rev.  W.  H.  Collins  supplying  his  place.  The 
Rev.  James  A.  Sanderson  held  the  re6torship 


ii6        The  Narragansett  Church 

from  1866  to  1868.  The  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin 
was  re6lor  from  1869  to  1874,  the  Rev.  George 
J.  Magill  from  1875  to  the  year  1876,  the  Rev. 
William  W.  Ayres  from  1 876  to  1887,  ^^^  ^^v. 
A.J.Thompson  from  1887  until  1890  and  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Borden  Smith  from  1890  to  1897. 
The  Rev.  Frederick  B.  Cole,  the  present  rec- 
tor (1907),  took  charge  in  1897.] 


RECTORS 

Christopher  Bridge  1706- 

William  Guy  i?!?- 

James  MacSparran  1721- 

Samuel  Fayerweather  *i'j6o- 

I/iterregiium :  War  nxjith  Great  Britain 

William  Smith  1787- 
Walter  Gardner  {Lnj  Reader  and,  later,  minister  or  deacon 

officiating)  J79I- 

Joseph  Warren  1796- 

Isaac  B.  Pierce  {Lay  Reader)  1809- 

James  Bowers  181 2- 

Lemuel  Burgc  {Lay  Reader)  1817- 

Patrick  H.  Folker  1819- 

Lemuel  Burge  1820- 

Francis  Peck  1834- 

Lemuel  Burge  1837- 

John  H.  Rouse  1840- 

Daniel  Henshaw  1849- 

Alonzo  B.  Flanders  1854- 

William  H.  Collins  1861- 

James  A.  Sanderson  1866- 

Daniel  Goodwin  1869- 

George  J.  Magill  1875- 

William  W.  Ayres  1876- 

Albert  J.  Thompson  1887- 

Samuel  Borden-Smith  1890- 

Frederick  B.  Cole  1897- 


708 
718 

757 
774 

790 

794 
805 

813 
814 
819 

820 

834 
836 
840 
849 

853 
866 


874 
876 
887 
890 
897 


*"S.  P.  G.  Records"  gives  1780  as  year  of  close  of  Mr.  Fayer- 
weather's  settlement. 


Chapter  XIX 

WARWICK  CHURCH 
A.D.    1726  to  A.  D.    1764 

The  Lippitt  Family.  The  Stafford  Family.  Richard 
Greene.  Thomas  Wickes.  Colonel  Christopher  Greene. 

RESPECTING  the  Warwick  Church,"^  in 
which  Dr.  MacSparran,  Mr.  Fayerweather, 
and  others  officiated  once  a  month,  I  have  been 
favoured  with  the  following  letter  from  William 
D.  Brayton,  Esq.,  of  Warwick,  a  gentleman  of 
antiquarian  research : 

"In  reply  to  your  enquiries  relative  to  the  old  Epis- 
copal church  in  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  MacSparran  offi- 
ciated in  Warwick,  I  send  you  the  best  information 
which  I  have  obtained  on  that  subjedl.  On  the  2d  of 
September,  1728,  a  lot  of  ground  situated  at  equal 
distances  from  the  present  villages  of  Apponaug  and 
East  Greenwich,  and  between  the  Post  road  and  the 
present  Stonington  railroad,  was  conveyed  by  the  Rev. 
George  Pigot  'to  the  Society  in  London  for  the  Pro- 
pagation of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  for  ere6ling 
a  church  according  to  the  establishment  of  churches 
by  law  in  England.'  A  church  was  accordingly  ereded 
— a  wooden  building  two  stories  in  height,  with  a 
steeple  and  spire,  fronting  the  Post  road.  After  remain- 
ing unoccupied  a  long  time,  in  a  ruined  state,  it  was 
taken  down  about  the  year  1764,  by  inhabitants  from 
old  Warwick, forthepurpose  of  eredlingachurch  there. 
The  materials,  having  been  conveyed  to  the  shore, 
were  scattered  and  lost  during  a  storm  which  arose  soon 
after.  A  number  of  graves,  probably  of  individuals  con- 
neded  with  the  church,  are  still  to  be  seen  upon  the 
lot.  The  Rev.  George  Pigot  resided  in  Warwick  a  num- 


ii8        The  Narragansett  Church 

ber  of  years,  and  owned  a  tra6l  of  land  there.  He  pro- 
bably obtained  the  means  ^^°  of  ereding  the  church." 

The  congregation  of  Trinity  Church  in  New- 
port, when  they  built  their  new  church  in  1726, 
"gave  their  old  church  to  the  people  of  War- 
wick, who  had  no  church  of  their  own."  It  was 
by  tradition  floated  from  Newport  to  Coweset 
(the  Indian  name  of  this  part  of  Warwick),  and, 
when  taken  down,  it  was  never  rebuilt  in  Old 
Warwick,  and  there  has  not  been  any  Episco- 
pal church  in  that  town  since. ^^'  Some  Episcopa- 
lians remain,  but  most  of  the  families  of  that 
church  have  removed  to  Providence  and  else- 
where. 

We  extra6l  the  following  entries  from  the  re- 
cords relating  to  the  Warwick  Church  : 

"April  ii"'  1736  Baptized  at  Coeset  by  M' 
McSparran  two  children  viz^  Rebecca  Pigot 
Daughter  of  Edward  Pigot  and  Charles  Dickin- 
son Son  of  Capt  Jn°  Dickinson." 

Edward  Pigot,^^"  a  brother  of  the  Rev.  George  Pigot 
and  a  physician,  came  to  Warwick  soon  after  his  bro- 
ther, but  remained  only  a  few  years  after  he  had  re- 
moved to  Marblehead.  John  Dickinson ^^^  was  a  mer- 
chant residing  at  Coweset,  in  Warwick,  in  1 733  .Having 
failed  in  business,  he  removed,  after  a  few  years,  but 
to  what  place  has  not  been  ascertained. 

"Sept'  9*''  [1739]  Do(5lor  MacSparran  preached 
at  y^  Church  of  Warwick  and  admitted  to  y^ 
Sacrament  of  y^  Lord's  Supper  Mr.  [6/anJ(] 
Lavally." 

The  Mr.  Lavally,  or  Levally,^^'*here  mentioned  was 
probably  Pefer  Levally,  who  died  in  Warwick  in  1756 


chapter  Nineteenth  119 

and  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Levallys  in  Warwick  and 
Coventry.  Whence  the  family  emigrated  has  not  been 
ascertained.  Magdalene  Levally,his  daughter,  married 
a  Mr.  King.  Her  children,  John,  Mary,  Sarah,  Ann, 
and  Samuel  King  were  baptized  by  Dr.  MacSparran. 

"  Decern'  14""  [1745]  Dr  MackSparran  preached 
Mr.  Moses  Lippets'  funeral  Sermon  and  buryed 
him  in  his  own  Ground  in  Warwick.  He  died 
the  12""  abt  11  in  the  forenoon." 

Moses  Lippif^^  ^^^s  a  grandson  of  John  Lippit, 
who  was  one  of  the  persons  chosen  and  commissioned 
from  Providence  to  organize  the  government  under 
the  first  charter  in  1647.  John  soon  after  removed  to 
Warwick,  and  died  there,  leaving  two  sons,  John  and 
Moses.  Moses  married  Mary  Knowles,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  Knowles.^^^  He  left  three  daughters  and  an  only 
son,  Moses,  who  was  a  minor  at  the  time  of  his  father's 
death  in  1703  and  is  the  person  mentioned  by  Dr. 
MacSparran  in  the  Record.  He  married  Anphillis 
Whipple,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Whipple,^^^  of  Provi- 
dence, November  20,  1707.  She  was  reputed  a  woman 
of  herculean  strength.  Their  children  were:(i)  Moses, 
born  January  17,1 709.  (a)  Jeremiah,  January  27, 1 7 1 1 . 
(3)  Christopher,  November  29, 1712.(4)  Joseph, Sep- 
tember 4,  171 5.  (5)  Anphillis,  August  29,  1717.  (6) 
Freelove,  March  31,  1720.  (7)  Mary,  December  2, 
1723.  (8)  John,  December  24,  173 1. 

Moses  married  Wait  Rhodes,  a  daughter  of  John 
Rhodes,^^^  April  26,  1732,  and  besides  several  daugh- 
ters, left  but  one  son,  Abraham  Lippit,  who  was  or- 
dained, September  7, 1 782,  elder  of  the  Baptist  church 
of  old  Warwick  and  moved  to  the  western  country  in 

1793- 

Jeremiah  married  Welthan  (or  Welthyan)  Greene, 

sister  of  Richard  Greene  (the  subje6l  of  another  note), 

September  12,  1734.  He  was  Town  Clerk  of  War- 


120        The  Narragansett  Church 

wick  from  June,  1742,  to  his  death  in  1776,  with  the 
exception  of  the  year  1775. 

Joseph  married  Lucy  Brown,  daughter  of  Captain 
Thomas  Brown,  of  Rehoboth,  February  19,  1746, and 
had  two  sons,  Joseph  and  Thomas,  and  five  daughters. 

Ann  Phillis  (or  AnphiUis)  married,  June  18,  1736, 
Abraham  Francis,''^^  son  of  Abraham  Francis,  of  Bos- 
ton, then  deceased.  She  was  educated  in  Boston;  en- 
gaged to  Mr.  Francis  while  residing  at  Boston,  but 
married  in  Warwick.  Mr.  Francis  was  reported  to  be 
heir  to  most  of  the  land  on  which  Boston  stood,  but 
never  obtained  it.  He  did  not  live  many  years. 

Christopher  married  Catherine  Holden,  daughter 
of  Anthony  Holden,^''°  January  2,  1736,  and  was 
father  of  Colonel  Christopher  Lippit  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. The  Lippits  owned  a  great  estate  in  Warwick. 
Colonel  Christopher  Lippit  was  the  eldest  son,  and 
inherited  the  estate  of  his  father  under  the  old  law. 
Respecting  Colonel  Lippit,  John  Howland,  Esq.,  Pre- 
sident of  the  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society,  has  fur- 
nished the  following  notice: 

"Christopher  Lippit  was  a  member  of  the  General 
Assembly.  In  January,  1776,  he  was  appointed  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel of  the  regiment  raised  by  the  State. 
Colonel  Harry  Babcock  was  commander,  but  shortly 
quit  the  service  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lippit  was 
promoted  to  the  office  of  Colonel.  I  enlisted  in  Cap- 
tain Dexter's  company.  We  were  stationed  on  the  is- 
land of  Rhode  Island.  The  regiment  was  taken  into 
the  Continental  service,  and  the  officers  were  commis- 
sioned by  Congress.  After  the  disastrous  battle  of 
Long  Island,  we  were  ordered  to  join  Washington's 
army  at  New  York.  On  the  3  ist  of  December,  1776, 
while  the  army  under  Washington  was  in  Jersey,  the 
term  of  all  the  Continental  troops  expired  except  Lip- 
pit's  regiment,  who  had  eighteen  days  more  to  serve. 
The  brigade  to  which  they  were  attached  consisted  of 


chapter  Nineteenth  121 

five  regiments,  threeof  which  (Varnum's,  Hitchcock's, 
and  Lippit's)  were  from  Rhode  Island.  Colonel  Hitch- 
cock commanded  the  brigade,  and  Lippit's  regiment 
counted  more  than  one-third  of  the  whole.  This  was 
the  time  which  tried  both  soul  and  body.  We  had  by- 
order  of  the  General  left  our  tents  at  Bristol,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Delaware.  We  were  standing  on 
frozen  ground,  covered  with  snow.  The  hope  of  the 
Commander-in-chief  was  sustained  by  the  charadler  of 
these  half-frozen,  half-starved  men,  that  he  could  per- 
suade them  to  serve  another  month  until  the  new  re- 
cruits should  arrive.  He  made  the  attempt  and  it  suc- 
ceeded. General  Mifflin,  at  his  request,  addressed  our 
men;  he  did  it  well.  The  request  of  the  General  was 
acceded  to  by  our  unanimously  poising  the  firelock  as 
a  signal.  Within  two  hours  after  this  vote,  we  were 
on  our  march  to  Trenton.  Colonel  Lippit's  regiment 
was  in  the  battle  of  Trenton.  When  retreating  over  the 
bridge,  it  being  narrow,  our  platoons  were,  in  pass- 
ing it,  crowded  into  a  dense  and  solid  mass,  in  the 
rear  of  which  the  enemy  were  making  their  best  ef- 
forts." The  calm  and  dauntless  heroism  of  General 
Washington  and  the  staid  coolness  of  his  horse,  in 
this  hour  of  carnage,  are  too  impressive  and  thrilling 
to  be  omitted.  "The  noble  horse  of  General  Washing- 
ton,"  he  continues,  "stood  with  his  breast  pressed 
close  against  the  end  of  the  west  rail  of  the  bridge; 
and  the  firm,  composed  and  majestic  countenance  of 
the  General  inspired  confidence  and  assurance  in  a  mo- 
ment so  important  and  critical.  In  this  passage  across 
the  bridge,  it  was  my  fortune  to  be  next  to  the  west 
rail  and,  arriving  at  the  end  of  the  bridge  rail,  I  was 
pressed  against  the  shoulder  of  the  General's  horse 
and  in  contad  with  the  boot  of  the  General.  The  horse 
stood  as  firm  as  the  rider  and  seemed  to  understand 
that  he  was  not  to  quit  his  post  and  station.  They  did 
not  succeed  in  their  attempt  to  cross  the  bridge.  Al- 


122        The  Narragansett  Church 

though  the  creek  was  fordable  between  the  bridge  and 
the  Delaware,  they  declined  attemptinga  passage  there, 
in  the  face  of  those  who  presented  a  more  serious  ob- 
strudion  than  the  water.  On  one  hour — yes,  on  forty 
minutes,  commencing  at  the  moment  when  the  British 
first  saw  the  bridge  and  creek  before  them  —  depended 
the  all-important,  the  all-absorbing  question,  whether 
we  should  be  independent  States  or  conquered  rebels ! 
Had  the  army  of  Cornwallis  within  that  space  crossed 
the  bridge  or  forded  the  creek,  unless  a  miracle  had  in- 
tervened, there  would  have  been  an  end  of  the  Ameri- 
can army.  If  any  fervent  mind  should  doubt  this,  it 
must  be  from  its  not  knowing  the  state  of  our  few 
half-starved,  half-frozen,  feeble,  worn-out  men,  with 
old  fowling  pieces  for  muskets,  and  half  of  them  with- 
out bayonets — and  the  States  so  disheartened,  dis- 
couraged, and  poor,  that  they  sent  no  reinforcements, 
no  recruits  to  supply  the  places  of  this  handful  of  men, 
who,  but  the  day  before,  had  volunteered  to  remain 
with  their  venerated  and  beloved  commander  for  thirty 
days  more.  General  Mercer  fell  in  the  a6lion  the  next 
day  at  Princeton. 

"Colonel  Lippit  was  in  the  battle  of  Princeton.  The 
Commander-in-chief,  after  the  adion,  took  the  com- 
mander-in-chief of  our  brigade  by  the  hand  (Colonel 
Hitchcock),  expressing  his  high  approbation  of  his  con- 
du6t  and  that  of  the  troops  he  commanded,  and  wished 
him  to  communicate  his  thanks  to  his  officers  and  men. 
We  retired  to  Morristown  about  the  third  day  after  our 
arrival. The  com manderofour  brigade.  Colonel  Hitch- 
cock, died  from  the  sufferings  he  had  experienced  in 
this  dreadful  campaign.  He  was  a  very  accomplished 
gentleman,  and  a  fine  officer — few  of  the  generals  ex- 
ceeded or  equalled  him  in  talents.  He  was  educated  at 
Yale.  After  this  the  brigade  was  broken  up  and  sent 
to  different  stations,  ours  to  a  place  called  Chatham. 
We  were  discharged  in  February  and  returned  home." 


chapter  Nineteenth  123 

Colonel  Lippit  continued  in  service  during  the  war. 
He  afterwards  removed  into  Cranston ^^'  and  was  ap- 
pointed Major  General  of  State's  militia.  He  died  on 
his  farm  in  Cranston. 

Charles  Lippit,"^  the  brother  of  Colonel  Lippit, 
died  in  Providence  in  August,  1845,  ^g^d  ninety-one 
—  the  oldest  man  in  Providence.  Mr.  Charles  Lippit 
was  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  was  for  many 
years  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  from  Provi- 
dence, and  through  a  long  life  sustained  an  exemplary 
charader  of  integrity  and  honour. 

"June  8""  [1746]  Sunday  in  the  Morning  abt  8 
of  the  Clock  Dr  MacSparran  baptized  by  Im- 
mersion a  young  woman  named  Patience  Staf- 
ford Daughter  of  Sam'  Stafford  of  Warwick,  and 
then  from  Mr.  Francis ^^^  rode  to  the  Chh  read 
Prayers  and  preach'^  there,  and  in  the  Afternoon 
reached  Home." 

Samuel  Staffi^rd  was  a  descendant  of  Thomas  Staf- 
ford,"^ who  settled  in  Warwick  in  1652,  and  died  in 
1 677, leavingthreesonSjThomas,  Samuel, and  Joseph, 
and  two  daughters. 

Samuel"^  married  Mercy  Westcott,  a  daughter  of 
Stukeley  Westcott,"'*  and  died  in  17 18,  aged  eighty- 
two  years,  leaving  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  The 
elder  son,  Amos,''^' married  Mary  Burlingame,  daugh- 
ter of  Roger  Burlingame,''"  senior,  December  19, 1689. 
Samuel,  his  eldest  son,  was  born  September  24,  1692; 
married  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Bennett"^  June  20, 1 7 1 7. 

Of  Thomas,  the  ancestor,  there  is  this  tradition  in  the 
family  :  that  he  was  a  millwright,  came  from  Warwick- 
shire in  England,  landed  or  was  at  Plymouth  about 
1626  and  built  the  first  water  corn-mill  there;  that 
he  afterwards  came  to  Providence  and  built  the  mill 
of  John  Smith ;  "^  and  that,  after  his  settlement  at  Old 


124        The  Narragansett  Church 

Warwick,  he  built  for  the  Shawomet  settlers  their  grist 
mill.  A  descendant  of  the  family  has  communicated 
the  following  memoir:  "  It  appears  that  Thomas  Staf- 
ford was  born  probably  between  the  years  1600  and 
1 6 10,  and  emigrated  from  Warwickshire,  England,  to 
Plymouth,  New  England, in  1626, or  about  that  time. 
The  first  settlement  at  Plymouth  was  in  1620,  and  of 
course  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  coun- 
try. He  was  a  millwright  and  at  Plymouth  eredled  a 
grist  mill,  said  to  have  been  the  first  in  New  England 
which  ground  corn  by  water.  It  appears  that  from  some 
cause  he  did  not  remain  there  long,  but  removed  to  Pro- 
vidence. Here  he  ereded  the  first  grist  mill  in  Rhode 
Island,  situated  at  the  north  end  of  the  town  near 
Mill  Bridge.  Without  remaining  there  long,  he  again 
removed,  this  time  to  Old  Warwick,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  He  secured  to  himself  a  con- 
siderable tra6t  of  land  at  the  head  of  the  mill  cove,  in- 
cluding the  present  mill  seat,where  he  erefted  another 
grist  mill.  He  lived  on  the  north  side  of  the  mill 
stream,  where  stands  the  house,  which  is  now  owned 
by  Amos  Greene  and  was  formerly  the  property  of  the 
Lippit  family.  His  wife's  name  was  Elizabeth,  but 
whether  he  married  before  or  after  his  arrival  in  this 
country  cannot  be  ascertained,  nor  can  any  particulars 
in  reference  to  his  family,  except  that  he  had  three  sons, 
viz.,  Thomas,  Samuel,  and  Joseph;  and  three  daugh- 
ters, Hannah,  Sarah,  and  Deborah.  Thomas  married 
Jane  Dodge,  Samuel  married  Mercy  Westcott, daugh- 
ter of  Stukeley  Westcott,"'*  and  Joseph  married  Sarah 
Holden,  daughter  of  Randall  Holden.^''^  Samuel  Staf- 
ford ""^  succeeded  to  his  father's  estate,  where  he  died 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two,  leaving  two  sons, 
Amos  and  Thomas.  Thomas  ''^°  inherited  the  home- 
stead, including  the  mill,  and  Amos  ^^^  fixed  his  resi- 
dence about  half  a  mile  northwest,  where  he  built  a 
house  (which  was  burnt  in  the  occupancy  of  his  grand- 


chapter  Nineteenth  125 

son,  Thomas,  in  the  year  1767,  being  the  same  spot 
where  the  mansion  house  now  stands).  He  (Amos) 
had  thirteen  children,  only  five  of  whom  survived  him, 
viz.,  two  sons,  Samuel  and  Amos,  and  three  daugh- 
ters, Mary,  Marcy,  and  Freelove.  Probably  there 
never  lived  a  more  industrious,  indefatigable  man  than 
this.  It  was  a  maxim  of  his : '  Four  hours  is  enough  for 
any  one  to  sleep.'  He  belonged  to  the  Society  of 
Friends,  as  did  his  wife  and  family.  He  held  the  of- 
fice of  town  treasurer  for  several  years.  About  two 
years  before  his  death  he  became  blind,  and  died  in 
the  year  1760,  in  the  ninety-fifth  year  of  his  age.  His 
daughter,  who  attended  him  in  his  last  sickness,  was 
upwards  of  seventy  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  six 
days  younger  than  himself;  after  his  decease  she  lived 
six  days  and  died,  having  lived  to  the  precise  age  of 
her  husband — a  more  remarkable  circumstance,  as  it 
was  connected  with  such  extraordinary  longevity. 

"I  would  mention  one  more  incident  in  relation  to 
the  times — Samuel  Gorton,^^''  Randall  Holden,  and 
others,  were  taken  from  an  adjoining  lot,  situated  on 
the  north  side  of  the  mill  pond,  by  the  authority  of 
Massachusetts,  carried  to  Boston,  and  there  tried  for 
their  lives  for  heresy.  These  men  had  assembled  in  a 
block-house  which  had  been  previously  ereded,  to 
proteft  them  from  the  natives,  who  were  very  hos- 
tile. They  capitulated  or  surrendered  on  condition  of 
good  treatment,  relying  on  the  justice  of  their  cause 
and  their  religion.  After  going  through  their  trial,  they 
were  neither  condemned  nor  acquitted,  but  detained, 
and  finally  permitted  to  return  to  their  settlement. 
On  this  lot,  where  originally  stood  this  block-house, 
was  the  family  burying-ground  of  the  first  millwright 
in  New  England." 

"April  21'^  [sic]  [1750]  Dr.  MacSparran  bap- 
tized by  Immersion  at  Warwick  Elizabeth  Green 


126        The  Narragansett  Church 

wife  of  Richard  Green/^^  and  by  Affusion  Wel- 
than  Lippet  wife  of  Jeremiah  Lippet  '^^*  and  sis- 
ter of  said  Richard." 

"Saturday  June  y''  la""  1756  Dr.  MacSpar- 
ran  administered  Baptism,  by  total  Immersion 
to  two  young  women  at  Warwick,  viz'  Eliza- 
beth Green,  Jun'  Daughter  of  Richard  Green 
and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  and  to  Sarah  Hammet, 
Daughter  of  an  Anabaptist  Teacher  there  Some 
time  ago  dead." 

Richard  Greene  was  a  son  of  Richard,  and  grandson 
of  Thomas  ^^^  Greene,  a  brother  of  Deputy  Governor 
John  Greene. ^^^  He  had  a  son,Thomas,^^^who  was  fa- 
ther of  the  present  Judge  Thomas  Wickes  Greene. ''^^ 
He  was  born  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  April,  1702. 
His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Godfrey ,^^^  of  Newport.  He 
resided  in  Old  Warwick,  in  the  house  which  had  been 
the  home  of  his  grandfather,  Thomas  Greene,  had  been 
occupied  as  a  garrison  house  in  the  Indian  war,  and, 
being  of  stone,  had  escaped  the  general  destru6lion 
in  which  the  town  was  involved  at  that  time.  It  was 
originally  built  by  John  Smith,  who  was  President  of 
the  Colony ''^°  in  1649  (^^^^  who  died  in  1663),  and 
upon  the  lot  originally  set  off  to  him.  It  stood  partly 
upon  the  site  of  the  present  dwelling  of  Judge  Tho- 
mas Wickes  Greene,  to  make  room  for  which  it  was 
taken  down  by  him. 

Thomas  Greene,"'  the  brother  of  the  first  Richard 
above  mentioned,  left  but  one  son,  John,''^^  who  suc- 
ceeded to  his  father's  estate,  at  Potowomut,  and  died 
there.  Richard,thesonofJohn,  called"  Richard  Greene 
ofPotowomut,"wasbornO(5tober4, 1725.  He  married 
Sarah  Fry,''^^  daughter  of  Thomas  Fry,of  East  Green- 
wich, September  28,  1746,  and  died  June  19,  1779. 
Mrs.  Le  Baronj'^^'^a  descendant  of  the  late  "Richard 


Chapter  Nineteenth  127 

Greene,  of  Potowomut,"  communicates  the  following 
notice  of  him: 

"Richard  Greene,  son  of  John  of  Potowomut, 
where  he  was  born,  was  a  branch  of  the  Stone  Castle 
Greenes,  so  called  from  our  progenitors  having  built 
a  castle  ^^^'  ^^°  of  that  material  soon  after  their  arrival 
in  North  America,  for  defence  against  the  attacks  of 
the  Indians.  John  Greene,  of  Stone  Castle  memory, 
reached  here  with  his  wife  and  five  children  in  1 630 ;  ^^^ 
he  was  one  of  the  Greenes  of  Awkley  Hall,''5^in  Eng- 
land. They  were  of  the  Established  Church.  John  the 
first,  after  burying  his  wife  in  Warwick,  returned  to 
England,  and  married  a  second  wife;  who,  with  him- 
self, was  also  interred  at  a  place  called  Conimicut.  I 
once  enquired  of  one  of  the  oldest  of  our  race  with 
whom  I  have  been  acquainted,  what  she  imagined 
could  have  induced  them,  as  they  possessed  property, 
to  leave  their  comfortable  homes  in  Europe.  She  re- 
plied, '  I  cannot  tell,  unless  they  had  roving  disposi- 
tions.' '  Richard  Greene  of  Potowomut,'  and  Sarah 
Fry,  daughter  of  Thomas  Fry  of  East  Greenwich, 
were  married  September  28,  1746  —  so  says  the  re- 
cord. Mr.  Greene  owned  a  farm  in  Coventry,  which 
was  large  and  valuable;  another  in  West  Greenwich — 
the  number  of  acres  in  either  I  do  not  know.  That 
on  which  he  resided  I  have  heard  contained  two  thou- 
sand acres. ^^^  I  do  not  believe  the  number  was  so  great, 
but  am  quite  certain  it  was  usually  stocked  with  eight 
hundred  sheep,  and  horses  and  cattle  in  abundance. 
His  furniture  and  wines  were  imported  from  England. 
Servants,  both  white  and  coloured,  were  numerous. 
There  was  much  splendour  in  his  housekeeping  for 
the  times  in  which  he  lived.  His  always  employing  an 
overseer  (who  was  regularly  attached  to  the  family), 
accounts  for  his  having  leisure  to  entertain  more  com- 
pany, perhaps,  than  any  other  private  gentleman  in 
Rhode  Island,  and  he  was  remarkable  for  very  great 


128        The  Narragansett  Church 

hospitality.  A  large  proportion  of  his  visitors  were 
some  of  the  most  distinguished  personages  of  the  day. 
After  the  decease  of  my  grandmother,  in  1775,  my 
mother  conducted  her  father's  household  affairs  and 
presided  at  his  table;  and  I  well  remember  to  have 
heard  her  say,  that  Governor  Bradford  ^^^  was  a  fre- 
quent and  highly  esteemed  guest.  Of  the  clergy,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Fogg  ^'''^  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fayerweather  "^ 
she  mentioned  as  often  having  met  there.  General  Var- 
num,^^^  Judge  Lightfoot,^^^  the  Browns  of  Provi- 
dence,''^^ and  the  Hancocks  and  Quincys  of  Massa- 
chusetts visited  him.  The  last  time  I  was  in  South 
Carolina,  the  O'Harras  ^°°  bore  testimony  to  his  hos- 
pitality and  said  that  they  had  experienced  the  greatest 
kindness  and  civility  at  his  house.  When  I  saw  them 
they  were  very  old  and  very  wealthy.  His  children 
were  fourteen  in  number,  eleven  of  whom  survived 
him.  The  education  of  his  family  was  particularly  at- 
tended to,  he  having  always  employed  a  competent 
private  tutor.  His  children  were  instrudled  at  home 
until  they  were  of  a  suitable  age  to  be  sent  abroad  to 
boarding  schools.  He  was  a  handsome  man  of  the 
middle  size,  his  complexion  light,  eyes  blue,  and  his 
hair  a  rich  brown;  his  head  being  set  forward  a  little 
more  than  common  gave  him  the  appearance  of  a 
slight  stoop.  He,  like  myself,  was  not  a  ready  writer, 
but  possessed  great  conversational  powers  and  had 
that  most  happy  faculty  of  always  selecting  the  words 
most  proper  for  expressing  his  ideas  pleasingly.  He 
dressed  with  taste  and  was  scrupulously  neat  in  his 
person.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution,  he 
viewed  it  as  a  rebellion  against  lawful  authority ;  but 
I  firmly  believe  he  ever  remained  strictly  neutral,  al- 
though he  was  accused  of  aiding  and  assisting  the  Bri- 
tish—  because  he  refused  to  sell  the  produce  of  his 
farms  in  large  quantities  to  be  sold  again  at  an  exor- 
bitant price,  but  kept  it  and  had  it  dealt  out  to  the 


chapter  Nineteenth  129 

poor  as  they  needed  it  and  for  what  it  was  in  reality 
worth.  Those  who  had  no  money  were  furnished  with- 
out price.  For  this  reason  and  for  sheltering  and  pro- 
tedling  the  wife  and  little  children  of  a  person  who 
had  fled  to  Canada  to  escape  undeserved  persecution, 
he  was  suspedled  of  Toryism  and  suffered  much  in 
the  loss  of  property.  His  buildings  were  fired  and  an 
officer  with  an  armed  force  attempted  to  drive  his  cat- 
tle from  his  farm,  pretending  to  believe  they  were  in- 
tended to  supply  the  British  fleet,  which  was  then  ly- 
ing in  the  bay,  with  food.  He  told  him  to  do  it  at 
his  peril  and  they  were  not  removed.  This  officer's 
family  and  his  had  been  before  on  the  closest  terms 
of  intimacy,  butthefriendship  was  never  after  renewed. 
H  e  never  purchased  soldiers'  certificates,  nor  ever  paid 
a  debt  in  Continental  money.  He  was  called  by  the 
common  people, 'King  Richard,' to  distinguish  him 
from  others  of  the  same  name;  not  because  of  his 
loyalty  to  the  Crown,  but  for  his  charity  to  the  poor 
and  his  magnificent  manner  of  living.  He  was  fond 
of  cards,  which  displeased  his  father,  a  zealous  Qua- 
ker, and  on  that  account,  I  think,  he  discontinued 
playing.  His  outer  doors  were  never  fastened. ...  He 
never  had  what  we  call  watchers,  when  a  death  oc- 
curred in  his  family,  but  always,  himself,  slept  in  the 
room  with  the  corpse. 

"  My  grandfather  was,  for  more  than  twenty  years, 
affii6led  with  a  cancerous  tumour,  for  which  he  had 
been  twice  operated  upon;  and,  in  1778  or  1779,  went 
to  Newport  (which  was  then  garrisoned),  with  a  flag 
of  truce  for  the  benefit  of  the  advice  of  the  British  sur- 
geons, accompanied  by  my  mother,  his  eldest  daugh- 
ter, and  Dr.  William  Bowen,^°'  of  Providence,  who  in- 
tended to  remain  during  my  grandfather's  stay,  but 
was  not  permitted  to  land.  Cicuta  was  one  of  the  reme- 
dies prescribed, and, unfortunately,  he  took  too  power- 
ful a  dose.  (He  intended  to  leave  the  next  day  for 


130        The  Narragansett  Church 

home.)  The  efFed;  soon  warned  him  of  the  approach  of 
death.  He  went  to  his  chamber,  followed  by  my  mo- 
ther;gave  her  some  necessary  directions;  said,if  he  had 
been  less  liberal,  he  should  have  leftamuch  largerpatri- 
mony  for  his  children,  but  did  not  regret  it,  as  there  was 
still  enough;  advised  her  never  to  absent  herself  from 
church,  and  desired  that  none  of  his  descendants  should 
submit  to  the  knife  in  case  of  cancer.  Thus,  calmly,  on 
the  19th  of  July,  1779,^°^  died  this  noble  gentleman 
and  poor  man's  friend.  The  large  estate  which  Mr. 
Greene  owned  and  lived  on,  in  Potowomut,  is  now 
[i  847]  chiefly  owned  by  Mrs.  Hope  Ives,^^^  widow  of 
the  late  Thomas  P.  Ives,  Esq.,  of  Providence." 

John  Hammett  [father  of  Sarah  Hammett,  men- 
tioned in  the  above  extra6l  from  the  Parish  Register] 
was,  on  the  i8th  of  June,  1744,  ordained  an  assistant 
to  Manasseh  Martin,  the  elder  of  the  Six-Principle 
Baptist  Church  in  Warwick,^°^  and  is  spoken  of,  by 
the  historian  of  that  church,  as  an  eminent  servant  of 
Christ,  by  whose  ministry  many  gladly  received  the 
Word.  He  baptized.  May,  1750,  at  Freetown,  Mary 
Wells  and  Isabella  Sweet,  both  deaf  and  dumb. 

He  died,  as  the  same  historian  says,  "in  the  height 
of  his  usefulness,  zeal,  and  ministerial  labours;  "he  was 
"suddenly  called  to  his  reward  in  Christ,  December  28, 
1752,"  and  that  it  was  "a  solemn  event,  and  caused 
great  grief  to  the  church  and  congregation  at  large, 
among  whom  he  had  laboured  in  dispensing  the  word 
ofhfe." 

"May  y'  19"'  1753  At  the  old  Town  of  War- 
wick, at  Mrs.  Lippet's,^^^  were  baptized  by  Dr. 
MacSparran,  Mary  Wicks,  Daughter  of  Thomas 
Wicks'"''  and  Ruth,'"^  his  wife,  &c." 

"Saturday  June  y'  12""  1756  read  Prayers  and 
preached  y"  Same   Day  at   Mrs.  Lippet's  and 


i^ 


Chapter  Nineteenth  131 

baptized  Elizabeth  Wickes,  Daughter  of  Thos 
Wickes,  and  Ruth,  his  wife." 

Thomas  Wickes ^°'*  was  a  son  of  John  Wickes,^°^  a 
representative  in  the  General  Assembly  from  War- 
wick in  1706-7,  and  from  1709  to  171 5;  was  assist- 
ant [senator]  from  17 15  to  1738,  and  in  1740  and 
1 741;  town  clerk  from  17 12  to  his  death  in  Decem- 
ber, 1742,  with  the  exception  of  the  year  1720;  and 
fourth  in  descent  from  John  Wickes,^°^  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Shawomet,  and  fellow-sufferer  with  Samuel 
Gorton. ''^^  Of  this  ancestor,  Callender  says:  "He  was 
slain  by  the  Indians,  1675,  ^  very  ancient  man."  He 
became,infad:,oneof  the  first  victims  within  the  colony 
of  Rhode  Island  of  the  war  of  1675.  ^^  relation  to  his 
death  there  is  this  tradition:  that  on  the  approach  of 
danger,  when  garrisons  had  been  provided,  and  the  in- 
habitants had  generally  repaired  to  them,  he  could  not 
be  persuaded  that  he  required  any  protedion  against 
the  natives.  From  his  past  experience  of  their  uniform 
kindness  and  good-will  towards  him  personally,  he  was 
slow  to  believe  himself  in  danger,  and  to  the  oft-re- 
peated admonitions  of  his  friends  to  be  more  careful 
of  his  safety,  his  answer  was,  that  he  had  no  fears  of  in- 
jury from  the  Indians  —  that  they  would  not  hurt  him. 
With  this  mistaken  confidence  in  their  fidelity,  he  ven- 
tured beyond  the  protection  of  the  garrisons;  and  go- 
ing at  evening  into  the  woods  in  search  of  his  cows, 
he  did  not  return.  His  fate  was  first  known  to  his 
friends  on  seeing  his  head  set  upon  a  pole,  near  his 
own  dwelling,  on  the  following  morning.  This  they  im- 
mediately —  and  before  venturing  in  search  of  the  body 
—  buried  near  the  stone  garrison,  and  within  a  few  rods 
of  it.  The  body,  which  was  found  on  the  succeeding 
day,  was  interred  beside  the  head,  but  in  a  distind 
grave;  and  two  little  hillocks,  which  mark  the  spot,  are 
still  shown  as  the  grave  of  John  Wickes. 


132        The  Narragansett  Church 

He  left  one  son,  John/°^  who  from  the  time  of  his 
father's  death  resided  at  Mosquito  Cove,  Long  Island, 
for  several  years, and  married  Rose  Townsend,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Townsend.  Of  the  three  sons  of  this  mar- 
riage, John,^°^  the  eldest,  married  Sarah  Gorton,  a 
granddaughter  of  Samuel. 

Thomas,  the  fifth  son  of  this  last  marriage,  was  born 
in  Warwick,  September  8, 1 7 1 5, upon  the  estate  which 
had  been  successively  the  estate  of  his  ancestors,  ori- 
ginally assigned  to  John  Wickes  at  the  first  settle- 
ment of  the  town,  and  prior  to  1 647.  On  this  estate  he 
continued  to  reside  till  his  death,  in  1803.  He  left  but 
two  children:  Mary,  who  married  Rowland  Brown,^°^ 
of  South  Kingstown,  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Ben- 
jamin Gardiner,^'^  who  resided  in  Middletown,  on 
Rhode  Island;  both  by  his  first  wife,  Ruth.  At  what 
period  she  died,  or  where  he  married  his  second  wife, 
whom  he  left  a  widow  at  his  death,  I  have  not  been 
able  to  ascertain.  Her  name,  however,  was  Rebecca. 

He  was  twice  elefted  a  representative  to  the  General 
Assembly  from  Warwick,  viz.,  in  August,  1759,  and 
April,  1760.  In  1767,  the  voice  of  the  people  called 
Mr.  Wickes  into  the  Senate  of  the  colony.  The  times 
were  troublous,  and  the  firm  but  temperate  counsel  of 
such  men  as  Mr.  Wickes  ensured  tranquillity  to  the 
colony.  But  retirement,  social  intercourse,  and  the  cul- 
tivation of  his  plantation  had  paramount  charms  to  the 
discussions,  which  began  to  agitate  the  public  mind; 
and  in  1772,  he  signified  to  his  friends  his  desire  of 
retirement;  but  public  sentiment  delayed  the  execu- 
tion of  his  purpose,  as  the  following  communication 
from  Lieut.-Gov.  Sessions  to  Mr.  Wickes  will  show: 

Q  Providence^  April  14,  1 772 

We  have  once  more  taken  the  liberty  of  putting  your 
name  into  the  prox  [ticket],  as  a  candidate  at  the  next 
general  eledion,  and  hope  it  will  not  be  disagreeable. 


chapter  Nineteenth  133 

Your  condud  as  a  magistrate  gives  general  satisfaftion 
to  the  public.  It  was  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the 
gentlemen  of  this  town,  that  there  was  a  necessity  of 
your  continuance  for  another  year  at  least.  I  would 
therefore  request  that  you  would  make  up  no  deter- 
mination to  the  contrary  until  the  ele6lion,and  then, if 
you  can't  be  convinced  that  it  is  your  duty  to  stand 
another  year,  the  General  Assembly  must  choose  some 
other  person  in  your  room,  which  I  hope  you  will  not 
give  them  the  trouble  of  doing.  I  am,  with  resped;, 
Your  friend  and  humble  servant, 

Darius  Sessions 

Mr.  Wickes  continued  a  senator, and  was  reeleded  for 
the  yean  775.  After  his  reeledion  in  April  of  that  year, 
the  Battle  of  Lexington  occurred,  and  the  "Army  of 
Observation"  was  raised,  against  which  measure  Mr. 
Wickes  joined  Governor  Wanton  in  a  protest  (which 
the  reader  will  see  under  the  head  of  Wanton),  wishing 
to  avoid,  if  possible,  the  ultimate  resort  to  arms  by 
further  negotiation.  Blood  had  been  shed,  public  opin- 
ion had  become  exasperated,  dispassionate  counsels 
were  unheeded,  and  Mr.  Wickes,  at  the  general  elec- 
tion in  May  of  that  year,  declined  serving  in  the  office, 
to  which  he  had  been  eleded,  and  Mr.  James  Arnold, 
junior,  was,  by  the  Legislature,  eleded  to  supply  his 
place.  Mr.  Wickes  retired  to  private  life,  quietly  oc- 
cupied his  plantation  and  enjoyed  the  society  of  his 
friends,  who  always  received  a  welcome  reception  at  his 
hospitable  board;  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days 
in  the  bosom  of  his  family  and  in  the  social  circles  of 
Old  Warwick. The  late  Honourable  Elisha  R.  Potter 
knew  Mr.  Wickes  well  and  spoke  of  him  as  an  ac- 
complished planter  of  the  old  school,  firm  in  purpose, 
courteous  in  manner,  scrupulously  exadl  in  all  his 
worldly  relations  and  fond  of  the  social  intercourses 
of  life. 


134        The  Narragansett  Church 

"Thursday  July  22"*  1756  As  I  came  home  from 
Providence,  I  took  Warwick  in  my  way,  and 
baptized  by  Immersion  an  adult  named  Phebe 
Low  alias  Greene,  Daughter  of  Philip  Greene, 
Esq''  of  Warwick,  and  wife  of  one  Captain 
ow. 

Philip  Greene^'"  was  a  son  of  Major  Job  Greene, 
a  grandson  of  Deputy  Governor  John  Greene  ='^^  and 
the  father  of  Colonel  Christopher  Greene,  of  the  Rev- 
olution, and  married  Elizabeth  Wickes,  a  sister  of 
Thomas  Wickes.  Respedling  Colonel  Christopher 
Greene,  so  justly  distinguished  for  his  gallantry  in  the 
Revolution,  John  Rowland,  President  of  the  Rhode 
Island  Historical  Society, in  a  letter  dated  Oftober  23, 
1845,  says: 

"  I  received  yours  a  few  days  since,  and  will,  so  far 
as  my  recolledion  extends,  comply  with  your  request. 
Colonel  Greene  was  a  most  valuable  officer,  and  an 
honour  to  the  State;  but  it  is  most  unfortunate  for  his 
memory  that  so  few  public  or  private  materials  respect- 
ing him  are  now  in  existence.  Whenever  I  recur  to  the 
events  of  the  Revolution,  or  to  the  characters  of  those 
of  Rhode  Island  who  bore  such  conspicuous  parts  in 
what  ought  to  form  a  prominent  feature  in  its  history, 
I  am  vexed,  and  disposed  to  say  hard  things  of  those 
who  had  it  in  their  power  to  preserve  such  documents 
as  would  have  enriched  our  history,  and  have  done 
ample  justice  to  the  characters  of  our  then  most  es- 
teemed and  valuable  citizens. 

"Major  John  S.  Dexter,^"  of  this  State,  was  for  a 
long  time  an  assistant  or  deputy  in  the  office  of  the  Ad- 
jutant-General of  the  United  States  Army,  and  con- 
sequently had  access  to  all  the  orders  of  the  Com- 
mander-in-chief collected  in  that  department.  During 
the  presidency  of  Washington  and  Adams,  he  held 
an  important  office  in  the  Finance  Department  of  the 


chapter  Nineteenth  135 

United  States  in  this  State ;  andafter  he  resigned  the  of- 
fice of  chief  justice,  and  removed  to  his  farm  in  Cum- 
berland, I  applied  to  him  for  any  papers  in  his  posses- 
sion, to  be  deposited  in  the  cabinet  of  our  Historical 
Society.  He  informed  me  that  when  he  was  about 
removing  from  Providence  to  Cumberland,  he  found 
himself  encumbered  with  such  a  vast  mass  of  old  pa- 
pers and  books,  for  which  he  had  no  room  in  his  small 
house  in  Cumberland,  that  he  had  burnt  them  all  up, 
though  it  took  a  great  while  to  consume  them.  And 
this  gentleman  had  been  educated,  and  was  a  man  of 
sense  and  of  pleasant  manners,  yet  he  was  guilty  of 
this  stupid  and  wicked  a6l.  His  brother.  Captain  Dan- 
iel S.  Dexter,*"  performed  a  similar  ad;.  He  was  an  of- 
ficer in  Colonel  Greene's  regiment,  and  being  a  good 
writer  he  performed  the  office  of  his  clerk  or  secre- 
tary. He  had  a  great  amount  of  papers,  which  filled 
a  large  trunk.  He  was  appointed  Paymaster  of  Lip- 
pitt's"' regiment  before  he  was  twenty  years  old.  I  was 
then  in  that  regiment,  aged  nineteen.  He  continued 
in  the  service  under  various  promotions  to  the  close 
of  the  war,  when  he  held  the  rank  of  captain.  He  was 
a  good  officer  and  good  writer,  and  careful  to  preserve 
all  the  papers  he  wrote  or  copied.  In  old  age  he  re- 
moved to  the  house  next  adjoining  me;  he  was  feeble 
and  deaf.  I  frequently  called  on  him,  but  did  not  know 
of  his  having  any  old  papers,  until  the  lady  with 
whom  he  boarded  came  in  and  told  me  that  the  Cap- 
tain had  been  all  day  burning  up  papers;  that  he  had 
burnt  up  more  than  a  bushel.  I  immediately  ran  into 
the  house,  and  to  his  chamber,  if  possible  to  stop  the 
proceeding.  I  said  everything  to  prevent  any  further 
destrudlion,  but  it  was  too  late;  he  had  reserved  only 
one  letter,  from  General  Washington  to  Colonel 
Greene.  This  was  in  reply  to  one  the  General  had  re- 
ceived from  the  Colonel  respe6ting  a  soldier  then  un- 
der sentence  of  death,  whom  the  Colonel — from  some 


136        The  Narragansett  Church 

mitigating  circumstances — wished  to  pardon,  but  had 
not  the  power.  The  General  authorized  him  to  exer- 
cise this  power  at  his  own  discretion.  This  letter,  a 
few  days  after,  Mr.  Dexter  handed  to  my  daughter.  I 
esteemed  it  of  great  value,  not  only  for  its  being  in 
the  handwriting  of  Washington,  but  as  expressing  the 
just  and  benevolent  sentiments  of  that  illustrious  man. 

"  (I  have  delayed  finishing  the  communication  for 
a  week  or  so,  to  search  for  the  letter,  that  I  might 
send  you  a  copy.  I  have  examined  and  overhauled  a 
bushel  of  old  papers  and  letters,  but  have  not  yet 
found  it,  and  my  daughter  is  confident  that  I  some 
time  ago  deposited  it  in  the  cabinet  of  the  Historical 
Society.  I  trust  it  is  so  and  there  safe,  but  as  our  new 
building  is  not  yet  provided  with  proper  cabinets, 
our  deposits  there  are  mixed  up  in  some  confusion, 
but  I  shall  soon  find  it,  which  my  feeble  health  has  as 
yet  prevented.) 

"I  am  not  sure  that  I  ever  saw  Colonel  Greene 
more  than  once.  Colonel  Varnum,  who  lived  in  East 
Greenwich  in  1774,  had  formed  a  company  called  the 
^Kentish  Guards,'  and  the  morning  after  the  news 
of  the  Lexington  battle  arrived  here  (Providence),  I 
saw  them  march  through  the  street  on  their  way  to- 
wards Boston,  and  saw  Mr.  Greene,  who  had  the  nom- 
inal rank  of  major.  He  appeared  as  a  strong  man, 
thick-set,  and  broad  across  the  shoulders.  Nathanael 
Greene,  afterwards  the  General,  was  a  private  in  this 
company.  I  had  often  seen  him,  and  knew  him  well. 
His  leftleg  or  thigh  was  shorter  than  the  other,  which 
caused  his  musket  at  every  step  to  shake,  and  did  not 
accord  with  the  steady  position  of  those  on  his  right 
and  left;  but  when  I  saw  him  afterwards  on  horse- 
back, he  rode  well.  Colonel  Varnum  marched  his  com- 
pany as  far  as  Pawtucket,  where  he  met  an  express 
who  said  that  the  enemy  had  returned  to  Boston.  He 
then  returned  to  Greenwich. 


chapter  Nineteenth  137 

"To  compensate  for  any  defedl  in  my  personal 
knowledge  of  Colonel  Greene,  I  would  specially  refer 
you  to  the  memoirs  of  the  southern  war,  by  Colonel 
Henry  Lee.  There  you  find  an  account  of  the  Red 
Bank  battle,  and  in  the  appendix  a  biography  of  him — 
doubtless  written  by  one  of  his  family,  as  it  contains 
notices  of  his  ancestors  which  Lee  could  not  otherwise 
have  known.  In  one  item  I  think  Lee  was  mistaken; 
he  calls  him  Captain  Greene  at  the  attack  on  Quebec. 
I  am  certain  he  was  then  Major^^^""  and  soon  after  his 
exchange,  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel.  I  do  not 
think  that  a  life  of  Greene,  unless  you  add  extraneous 
matters,  will  be  of  sufficient  compass  to  fill  a  book; 
and  if  you  add  that  of  Major  Thayer,^'^  who  was  one 
of  the  best  officers  in  the  service,  it  will  help  the  size  of 
the  volume,  and  you  will  find  an  account  of  Thayer 
also  in  the  appendix  of  Lee's  memoir.  In  any  notices 
of  Thayer,  a  copy  of  General  Varnum's  account  of  the 
delinquency  of  Colonel  Sam  Smith,^'"*  and  of  Thayer's 
taking  the  command  of  Mud  Island,  ought  to  be  an- 
nexed; and  of  Smith's  keeping  the  sword  presented  by 
Congress  to  the  defender  of  that  post,  instead  of  de- 
livering it  to  Major  Thayer,  to  whom  it  justly  be- 
longed. 

"A  volume  could  be  written  injustice  to  the  char- 
after  of  Silas  Talbot,'^'^  of  Rhode  Island.  He  -^diS  great 
both  by  land  and  sea,  and  in  Congress. 

"On  second  thought,  I  have  no  doubt  that  I  must 
have  seen  Colonel  Greene  on  Rhode  Island,  in  Sulli- 
van's expedition,  in  1778,  as  I  then  was  in  the  Provi- 
dence militia  regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Ma- 
thews,^'^and  this  regiment  composed  a  part  of  the  bri- 
gade of  which  Colonel  Greene  was  the  commander. 

"The  sword  voted  by  Congress  to  Colonel  Greene 
for  his  defence  of  Red  Bank,  did  not  arrive  from  France, 
where  it  was  made,  until  some  time  after  the  death  of 
the  Colonel,  and  it  was  then  transmitted,  with  a  letter 


138        The  Narragansett  Church 

from  General  Knox,  to  Job  Greene/'^  the  Colonel's 
eldest  son.  The  second  son  of  the  Colonel/'^  who  was 
a  young  man  of  education,  and  fine  talents  and  ad- 
dress, settled  at  first  in  this  town  in  business;  and,  af- 
ter the  decease  of  his  elder  brother,  had  possession  of 
the  sword.  He  removed  hence  to  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  and  carried  the  sword  with  him.  His  name 
and  connedlions,  with  his  fine  talents,  induced  the  citi- 
zens to  invite  him  to  deliver  a  Fourth  of  July  oration, 
which  was  highly  applauded,  and  printed.  He  sent  one 
to  be  presented  to  our  Providence  Library  Company. 
He  married  a  lady  in  Charleston,  but  the  southern 
fever  carried  him  off  in  the  next  year;  had  he  lived, 
he  would  have  been  distinguished  in  civil  life,  as  his 
father  was  in  military.  I  have  never  heard  of  the  sword 
since,^"'  but  suppose  it  is  still  preserved  by  the  family 
of  his  wife.  When  I  understood  that  Colonel  Henry 
Lee  was  writing  and  about  to  publish  his  history  of 
the  southern  war,  I  sent  out  to  him  by  one  Richard 
Jackson, the  G^z^"//^  containing  General  Varnum's  ac- 
count of  Smith's  leaving  Mud  Island  and  Thayer's  ^'^ 
taking  the  command,  and  the  mistake  made  by  Con- 
gress in  voting  the  sword  to  Smith  ^"*  instead  of 
Thayer,  who  did  all  the  fighting;  but  Smith  being 
then  a  powerful  leader  of  the  jacobin  party  in  the  Sen- 
ate, Lee  thought  best  not  to  insert  the  account  en- 
tire, but  omitted  in  his  story  any  account  of  the  sword 
in  question,  and  gave  high  credit  to  Thayer,  who  de- 
served it. 

"  General  Greene  was  an  able  General,  but  how  he 
would  have  stood  in  a  subordinate  station  we  cannot 
tell.  Silas  Talbot,^'^  however,  was  qualified  for  any  sta- 
tion. He  excelled  as  a  partisan  officer  on  the  land,  and 
as  an  able  and  successful  commander  on  the  ocean.  He 
was  the  most  popular  of  any  officer  in  this  State  as  a 
military  commander,  and  why  his  life  has  not  been 
written  is  not  to  be  accounted  for.  After  thewar  he  set- 


Chapter  Nineteenth  139 

tied  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  was  eleded  a  mem- 
ber of  Congress,  where  he  was  on  the  most  impor- 
tant committees." 

The  biography  of  Colonel  Greene  in  the  Appendix 
of  The  War  in  the  Southern  Department^  by  Colonel 
H.  Lee,  referred  to  by  Mr.  Howland,  is  subjoined  as 
follows: 

"Christopher  Greene,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Com- 
mandant of  one  of  the  Rhode  Island  regiments  in  the 
service  of  Congress  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Warwick,  in  the  State  of  Rhode 
Island,  in  the  year  1737.  His  father,  Philip  Greene, 
Esq.,^'°was  descended  from  John  Greene,  Esq. ,^^5  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  The  lat- 
ter gentleman  emigrated  from  England  in  the  year  1635, 
and  settled  in  Salem  —  now  a  well-improved,  open,  but 
commercial  town.  Mr.  Greene,  soon  after  his  arrival, 
purchased  from  the  Indian  sachems,  Miantonomi  and 
Socononoco,a  part  of  the  township  of  Warwick,  called 
Occupasuetuxet,  which  property  is  still  possessed  by 
some  of  his  descendants.  He  left  three  sons,  the  pro- 
genitors of  a  numerous  and  respeftable  race  of  men, 
successively  distinguished,  as  well  by  the  highest  offices 
in  the  gift  of  their  country,  as  by  their  talents,  their  use- 
fulness, and  goodness. 

"Philip  Greene,  the  father  of  the  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel, was  a  gentleman  of  the  first  respeftability  in  the 
State, beloved  for  his  virtues,  and  admired  for  the  hon- 
ourable discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  various  stations 
to  which  he  was  called — the  last  of  which  placed  him 
on  the  bench  as  a  judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  the 
State.  A  father  so  situated  could  not  but  cherish  the 
intellectual  powers  of  his  progeny  with  the  utmost 
attention.  Christopher  received  all  the  advantages  in 
the  best  line  of  education  procurable  in  the  country, 
which  he  took  care  to  improve  by  the  most  arduous 
application.  He  was  particularly  attached  to  the  study 


140        The  Narragansett  Church 

of  mathematics,  in  which  he  made  proficiency,  and  thus 
laid  up  a  stock  of  knowledge  exadlly  suitable  for  that 
profession  to  which  he  was  afterwards  unexpedledly 
called.  Exhibiting  in  early  life  his  capacity  and  amia- 
bility, he  was  eledled  by  his  native  town  to  a  seat  in 
the  Colonial  Legislature  in  Odlober,  1 770,  and  he  con- 
tinued to  fill  the  same,  by  successive  elections,  until 
06lober,  1772.  In  1774,  the  Legislature  wisely  es- 
tablished a  military  corps,  styled  *  Kentish  Guards,' 
for  the  purpose  of  fitting  the  most  seledl  of  her  youth 
for  military  offices.  In  this  corps  young  Greene  was 
chosen  a  lieutenant,  and  in  May,  1775,  ^^  ^^^  ^P" 
pointed  by  the  Legislature  a  major  in  what  was  then 
called  *  An  Army  of  Observation,'  our  brigade  of  six- 
teen hundred  effedlives  under  the  orders  of  his  near 
relative,  Brigadier-General  Greene,  afterwards  so  cele- 
brated. 

"From  this  situation  he  was  promoted  to  the  com- 
mand of  a  company  of  infantry  in  one  of  the  regiments 
raised  by  the  State  for  continental  service.  The  regi- 
ment to  which  he  belonged  was  attached  to  the  army 
of  Canada,  conduced  by  General  Montgomery,  in  the 
vicissitudes  and  difficulties  of  which  campaign  Captain 
Greene^'^  shared,  evincing  upon  all  occasions  that  un- 
yielding intrepidity  which  marked  his  military  condu6l 
in  every  subsequent  scene.  In  the  attack  upon  Que- 
bec, which  terminated  the  campaign  as  well  as  the  life 
of  the  renowned  Montgomery,  Captain  Greene  be- 
longed to  the  column  which  entered  the  lower  town, 
and  was  made  prisoner.  His  elevated  mind  ill  brooked 
the  irksomeness  of  captivity,  though  in  the  hands  of 
the  enlightened  and  humane  Carleton;  and  it  has  been 
uniformly  asserted  that,  while  a  prisoner,  Greene  often 
declared  that  'he  would  never  again  be  taken  alive;' 
a  resolution  unhappily  fulfilled. 

"As  soon  as  Captain  Greene  was  exchanged,  he  re- 
paired to  his  regiment,  with  which  he  continued  with- 


Chapter  Nineteenth  141 

out  intermission,  performing  with  exemplary  propriety 
the  various  duties  of  his  progressive  stations,  when  he 
was  promoted  to  the  majority  of  Varnum's  regiment. 
In  1777,  he  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  was  seleded  by  Washington  to  take  com- 
mand of  Fort  Mercer  (commonly  called  Red  Bank), 
the  safe-keeping  of  which  post,  with  that  of  Fort  Mif- 
flin (Mud  Island)  was  very  properly  deemed  of  pri- 
mary importance.  The  noble  manner  in  which  Colo- 
nel Greene  sustained  himself  against  a  superior  force 
of  veteran  troops,  led  by  an  officer  of  ability,  has  been 
partially  related,  ...  as  well  as  the  well-earned  re- 
wards which  followed  his  memorable  defence.  Con- 
summating his  military  fame  by  his  achievements  on 
that  proud  day,  he  could  not  be  overlooked  by  the 
Commander-in-chief,  when  great  occasions  called  for 
great  exertions.  Greene  was  accordingly  attached  with 
his  regiment  to  the  troops  placed  under  Major  Sulli- 
van, for  the  purpose  of  breaking  up  the  enemy's  post 
on  Rhode  Island,  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  French 
fleet  under  the  command  of  D'Estaing,  in  the  summer 
of  1778;  which  well-concerted  enterprise  was  marred 
in  its  execution  by  some  of  those  incidents  which 
abound  in  war,  and  especially  when  the  enterprise  is 
complicated,  and  entrusted  to  allied  forces  and  requires 
naval  cooperation.  Returning  to  headquarters.  Colonel 
Greene  continued  to  serve  under  the  Commander-in- 
chief,  whose  confidence  and  esteem  he  invariably  en- 
joyed. 

"In  the  spring  of  1 78 1 ,  when  General  Washington 
began  to  expedl  the  promised  naval  aid  from  our  best 
friend,  the  ill-fated  Louis  XVI,  he  occasionally  ap- 
proached the  enemy's  lines  on  the  side  of  York  Is- 
land. In  one  of  these  movements.  Colonel  Greene, 
with  a  suitable  force,  was  posted  on  the  Croton  River, 
in  advance  of  the  army.  On  the  other  side  of  this  river 
lay  a  corps  of  refugees  (American  citizens  who  had 


142        The  Narragansett  Church 

joined  the  British  army),  under  the  command  of  Colo- 
nel DeLancey.^''°  These  half  citizens,  half  soldiers, 
were  notorious  for  rapine  and  murder;  and  to  their 
vindidiive  condudl  may  justly  be  ascribed  most  of  the 
cruelties  which  stained  the  progress  of  our  war  and 
which  at  length  compelled  Washington  to  order  Cap- 
tain Asgill,^"  of  the  British  army,  to  be  brought  to 
headquarters,  for  the  purpose  of  retaliating,  by  his  ex- 
ecution, for  the  murder  of  Captain  Huddy,  of  New 
Jersey,  perpetrated  by  a  Captain  Lippincourt  [Lippin- 
cott?]  of  the  refugees.  The  commandant  of  these  re- 
fugees (DeLancey  was  not  present)  having  ascertained 
the  position  of  Greene's  corps,  which  the  Colonel  had 
cantoned  in  adjacent  farmhouses  —  probably  with  a 
view  to  the  procurement  of  subsistence — took  the  re- 
solution to  strike  it.  This  was  accordingly  done,  by  a 
no6turnal  movement,  on  the  13th  of  May.  The  enemy 
crossed  the  Croton  before  daylight,  and  hastening  his 
advance,  reached  our  station  with  the  dawn  of  day,un- 
perceived.  As  he  approached  the  farmhouse  in  which 
the  Lieutenant-Colonel  was  quartered,  the  noise  of 
troops  marching  was  heard,  which  was  the  first  inti- 
mation of  the  fatal  design.  Greene  and  Major  Flagg^" 
immediately  prepared  themselves  for  defence,  but  they 
were  too  late,  so  expeditious  was  the  progress  of  the 
enemy.  Flagg  discharged  his  pistols,  and  instantly 
afterwards  fell  mortally  wounded,  when  the  ruffians 
(unworthy  ofthe  appellation  of  soldiers)  burst  open  the 
door  of  Greene's  apartment.  Here  the  gallant  veteran 
singly  received  them  with  his  drawn  sword.  Several 
fell  beneath  the  arm  accustomed  to  conquer,  till,  at 
length,  overpowered  by  numbers  and  faint  from  the 
loss  of  blood  streaming  from  his  wounds,  barbarity 
triumphed  over  valour.  *  His  right  arm  was  almost  cut 
off  in  two  places,  the  left  in  one,  a  severe  cut  on  the  left 
shoulder,  a  sword  thrust  through  the  abdomen,  a  bayo- 
net in  the  right  side  and  another  through  the  abdo- 


Chapter  Nineteenth  143 

men,  several  sword  cuts  on  the  head  and  many  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  body.'  Thus  cruelly  mangled  fell  the 
generous  conqueror  of  Count  Donop,  whose  wounds, 
as  well  as  those  of  his  unfortunate  associates,  had  been 
tenderly  dressed  as  soon  as  the  battle  terminated,  and 
whose  pains  and  sorrows  had  been  as  tenderly  assuaged. 
How  different  was  the  relentless  fury  here  displayed ! 
The  Commander-in-chief  heard  with  anguish  and  in- 
dignation the  tragical  fate  of  his  loved,  his  faithful 
friend  and  soldier,  in  whose  feelings  the  army  sincerely 
participated.  On  the  subsequent  day  the  corpse  was 
brought  to  headquarters  and  the  funeral  was  solem- 
nized with  military  honours  and  universal  grief 

"Lieutenant-Colonel  Greene  was  murdered  in  the 
meridian  of  life,  being  only  forty-four  years  old.  He 
married,  in  1757,  Miss  Anne  Lippit,^""^  a  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  Lippit,  Esq.,  of  Warwick,  whom  he  left  a 
widow,  with  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  was 
stout  and  strong  in  person,  about  five  feet  ten  inches 
high,  with  a  broad,  round  chest;  his  aspe6t  manly  and 
demeanour  pleasing;  enjoying  always  a  high  state  of 
health,  its  bloom  irradiated  a  countenance  which  sig- 
nificantly expressed  the  fortitude  and  mildness  invari- 
ably displayed  throughout  his  life." 

The  Captain  Low  mentioned  was  Anthony  Low.^^"* 
He  was  descended  from  Anthony  Low,  of  Swansea, 
who  resided  in  Warwick  from  the  year  1656,  when  he 
was  admitted  a  freeman,  till  the  Indian  war  of  1675. 
His  dwelling  having  been  burned  in  March  of  that 
year,  he  returned  to  Swansea.  This  ancestor  was  the 
person  spoken  of  by  Captain  Church, as  the  individual 
who  volunteered  from  friendship  and  the  interest  he 
felt  in  the  success  of  his  cause,  to  carry  him  from  New- 
port to  Seaconnet  and  thence  to  Sandwich,  in  July, 
1676,  at  the  risk  of  vessel  and  cargo. 


Chapter  XX 

Other  Churches  in  the  Narragansett  Country.  Tower 
Hill  Church.  Westerly  Church.  Kast  Greenwich 
Church.  Kingston  Church.  Wakefield  Church, 

TOWER  HILL  CHURCH 

THE  Church  of  St.  Paul's  in  Narragansett 
(in  which  Dr.  MacSparran  preached)  was 
eredled  before  the  division  of  the  old  town  of 
Kingstown  into  the  two  towns  of  North  and 
South  Kingstown,  in  February,  1722-3.  The 
church,  upon  that  division,  fell  about  one  mile 
over  the  North  Kingstown  side  of  the  line.  In 
1 79 1,  it  was  incorporated ^^^  by  the  name  of 
St.  Paul's,  in  North  Kingstown,  and  the  sales 
and  donations,  both  in  real  and  personal  estate, 
were  made  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  in  North  Kings- 
town, in  its  corporate  name.*  The  location  of 
the  building  having  become  inconvenient  for 
both  parishes,  it  was,  in  1800,  removed  to 
Wickford,'^"*  already  at  that  time  a  large  village, 
and  the  parish  was  divided.  Services  were  per- 
formed by  one  re6lor  in  both  parishes,  on  alter- 
nate Sundays,  at  the  Wickford  church  and  at 
the  Glebe  house  in  South  Kingstown.  Through 
the  exertions  and  enterprise  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Burge,^^^  a  church  was  eredted  on  Tower  Hill  ^^^ 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  South  Kingstown 
parish,  and  consecrated  by  Bishop  Griswold, 

*The  Church  of  St.  Paul's  was  first  incorporated  in  Odlober,  1791. 
In  February,  1794,  upon  its  petition,  the  old  charter  was  repealed, 
and  a  new  one  granted. 


chapter  Twentieth  145 

November,  18 18.  This  parish  in  June,  1834, 
was  incorporated  by  the  name  of  St.  Luke's 
Church;  afterwards  in  October,  1838,  the  cor- 
porate name  was  changed  to  St.  Paul's,  and  ser- 
vices were  performed  in  the  new  church  instead 
of  at  the  Glebe.  In  1833,  the  church  at  Tower 
Hill  obtained  an  appropriation  from  the  Rhode 
Island  Convocation  for  a  missionary  to  preach 
regularly  in  the  Tower  Hill  church.  The  Rev. 
Erastus  De  Wolf,^''''  one  of  the  missionaries  of 
the  Convocation,  accepted  their  call,  and  per- 
formed services  in  the  Tower  Hill  church  for 
about  eight  months.  He  was  then  sent  as  a  mis- 
sionary to  Westerly.  As  soon  as  the  two  churches 
were  supplied  with  separate  services,  the  lands 
that  had  been  given  to  St.  Paul's  in  North  Kings- 
town (the  property  having  been  obtained  ori- 
ginally by  the  joint  contributions  of  both  pa- 
rishes), were  satisfa6lorily  divided,^''^  and  from 
that  time  alternate  services  by  the  same  re6tor 
ceased. 

In  the  autumn  of  1834,  the  parish  of  Tower 
Hill  again  called  the  Rev.  Mr.  De  Wolf  to  be- 
come its  minister,  and  he  continued  reftor  un- 
til 1838,  when  he  left.  The  Rev.  Francis  Vin- 
ton ^'^  succeeded  Mr.  De  Wolf.  In  1840,  the 
Church  of  the  Ascension,  at  Wakefield,  having 
been  erefted  and  consecrated,  the  members  of 
the  church  at  Tower  Hill  joined  the  Wakefield 
church,  and,  since,  there  have  been  but  occa- 
sional services  held  at  Tower  Hill  ^^°  by  the  rec- 
tor of  the  Wakefield  church. 


146        The  Narragansett  Church 

WESTERLY  CHURCH 
[Christ  Church'] 

In  1834,  the  Rev.  Erastus  De  Wolf,^'7as  a 
missionary  of  the  Rhode  Island  Convocation, 
preached  at  Westerly  about  seven  months.  A  pa- 
rish was  not  organized  while  he  remained  there. 
At  the  request  of  the  Convocation,  the  Rev. 
James  Pratt,^^'  in  September,  1 8  34,  visited  West- 
erly as  their  missionary,  and  held  services.  On 
the  24th  of  November  of  the  same  year,  under 
his  auspices,  a  church  was  organized,  and  a  sew- 
ing circle,  tra6t  society,  and  Sunday-school  of 
sixty  or  seventy  scholars  were  established.  In 
June,  1835,  the  Sunday-school  contained  one 
hundred  and  fifty-five  scholars  in  regular  attend- 
ance—  the  communicants  being  thirty-nine.  Mr. 
Pratt  had  also  obtained  nearly  ^2,000  by  subscrip- 
tion in  the  village  to  build  a  church.  In  1835,  a 
church,fifty-seven  by  thirty-eight  feet,  was  ere6t- 
ed,  at  an  expense  of  about  $6,000,  and  conse- 
crated as  Christ  Church.  In  1836,  a  neat  parson- 
age house  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  In  1 8 37, 
the  communicants  had  increased  to  eighty-six, 
and  in  1838  to  one  hundred  and  fifteen. 

On  December  26,  1839,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt 
received  a  call  from  the  church  at  Portland, 
Maine,  to  become  its  reftor,  a  position  which  he 
accepted,  and  until  Easter,  1 841,  the  Westerly 
church  was  supplied  with  only  occasional  ser- 
vices, when  the  Rev.  Mr.  Newman  became  rec- 
tor, and  continued  so  until  1844,  at  which  date 
the  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Vail  ^^^  was  eledted,  and  still 
[1847]  continues  re6tor.  Communicants,  135. 


chapter  Twentieth  147 

EAST  GREENWICH  CHURCH 

[St.  Luke's  C/mrc/i'] 

A  Church  was  organized  at  East  Greenwich, 
August  10,  i833,through  the  missionary  labours 
of  the  Rev.  Sylvester  Nash. ^"  The  church  was 
erected  and  consecrated  as  St.  Luke's  Church,  on 
the  lythof  April,  1834.  Mr.  Nash  continued  pas- 
tor of  the  church  until  April,  1 840.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded on  the  1 2th  ofjuly  following  by  the  Rev. 
William  H.  Moore.^''*  In  December,  1841,  the 
Rev.  Silas  A.  Crane  ^"  became  re6tor,  and  the 
church  is  now  [  1 847]  under  his  pastoral  charge. 
Communicants,  forty. 

[Dr.  Crane  died  July  1 6, 1 872,  the  parish  being  sup- 
plied, for  some  time  afterwards,  by  the  Rev.  Joseph 
M.  Turner.  In  the  early  part  of  1 874  the  Rev.  George 
Pomeroy  Allen  became  reftor  of  St.  Luke's,  remain- 
ing about  five  years.  During  his  rectorship  a  large 
church  of  granite  was  built. 

While  the  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin  was  in  charge  of 
the  parish,  from  September,  1879,10  November,  1892, 
the  considerable  indebtedness  upon  the  edifice  was 
paid  and  the  church  consecrated,  Oftober  18,  1880. 
From  the  early  part  of  1893,  for  about  one  year,  the 
Rev.  Frank  I.  Paradise  was  redor  of  St.  Luke's,  being 
followed  by  the  Rev.  Francis  B.  Whitcome,  who  re- 
mained until  1899,  a  parish  house  being  built  during 
his  pastorate.  In  the  autumn  of  1899,  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Worthington  became  redor  and  is  still  (1907) 
in  charge.] 

KINGSTON  CHURCH 

[St.  Peter's] 

The  Rev.  Mr.  De  Wolf,^^^  missionary  at  Tower 
Hill,  held  clerical  services  at  Kingston  ^^^  during 


148        The  Narragansett  Church 

the  winter  of  1 8  34-5 ;  and,  in  the  spring,  a  church 
was  organized  ^"  with  nineteen  communicants, 
and  admitted  into  the  Diocesan  Convention  in 
that  year.  In  May,  the  Rev.  William  W.  Niles, 
the  missionary  of  the  Convocation,  officiated  as 
pastor  for  about  six  months.  Regular  religious 
services  were  suspended, after  that  period,  for  the 
term  of  two  years.  In  April,  1838,  the  Rev. 
Louis  Jansen,  a  missionary  of  the  Convocation, 
was  elefted  reftor.  He  reported  to  the  Conven- 
tion twenty-three  communicants.  He  left  in 
January,  1839,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Francis  Vinton,^''^appointed  by  the  Convocation 
missionary  re6lor  over  the  parishes  of  Tower 
Hill  and  Kingston.  At  their  call,  he  continued 
to  perform  divided  services  in  the  two  churches 
until  he  accepted  the  re6torship  of  St.  Stephen's, 
Providence.  "  Lay  services  were  then  begun  by 
Lieutenant  A.  A.  Harwood,^^^  of  the  United 
States  Navy,  who  was  licensed  by  the  Bishop  of 
the  Diocese  for  this  objeft,  which  he  pursued 
with  praiseworthy  zeal."  In  January,  1840,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Newman  officiated  at  Kingston,  once 
a  Sunday,  until  the  Church  of  the  Ascension  was 
finished  at  Wakefield.  On  the  3 1  st  of  May,  1 840, 
regular  services  at  Kingston  church  were  closed, 
and  the  members  have  since  attended  the  Wake- 
field church.  No  church  edifice  was  built  at 
Kingston  —  the  congregation  worshipped  in  the 
State  [Court]  House. 


Chapter  Twentieth  149 

WAKEFIELD  CHURCH 

{Church  of  the  Ascension\ 

The  Rev.  Francis  Vinton,^^^  missionary  of  the 
Rhode  Island  Convocation  over  the  parishes  of 
Tower  Hill  and  Kingston,  organized  the  Church 
of  the  Ascension  at  Wakefield,  on  the  28th  of 
February,  1839,  with  six  communicants.  Wake- 
field is  situated  on  the  Saugatucket  River,  a  few 
rods  above  the  Point  Judith  Ponds,  into  which 
that  river  empties.  Within  the  distance  of  a  mile 
are  four  factories,  and  a  dense  population. 

Through  the  liberality  of  Elisha  Watson, 
Esq.,  suitable  lots  for  a  church  and  parsonage 
house  were  obtained,  and  in  a  few  weeks  the  re- 
quired amount  for  the  ere6tion  of  a  church  and 
a  large  portion  for  building  the  parsonage  were 
raised.*  The  building  of  the  church  was  begun 
in  the  summer  of  1839.  It  was  consecrated  on 
the  3d  of  June,  1840.  The  Rev.  William  H. 
Newman  was  the  first  reftor  (the  Rev.  Mr. 
Vinton  having  accepted  the  rectorship  of  St. 
Stephen's  in  Providence,  before  the  church  was 
completed).  Mr.  Newman  divided  his  labours 
between  the  Tower  Hill  and  Wakefield  parishes 
until  the  consecration.  He  continued  reftor  of 
the  Church  of  the  Ascension  until  Easter,  1841, 
when  he  accepted  a  call  to  Christ  Church,  West- 

*  The  Rev.  Mr.  Vinton  offered  to  procure  one  thousand  dollars, 
provided  the  same  amount  should  be  raised  in  South  Kingstown. 
The  offerings  were  so  liberal  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Watson  and  others, 
that  it  at  once  ensured  the  building  of  the  church,  and  the  next  day 
Mr.  Vinton  started  forth  to  redeem  his  pledge,  which  by  God's 
blessing  was  speedily  done,  through  the  liberality  of  Churchmen 
in  New  York  and  Providence. 


150        The  Narragansett  Church 

erly.  The  reftorship  of  the  Wakefield  church 
was  vacant,  except  for  occasional  ministrations, 
until  February,  1842,  when  the  Rev.  James  H. 
Eames^^'^  was  elefted  minister  of  the  united 
parishes  of  Tower  Hill  and  Wakefield,  in  the 
Church  of  the  Ascension.  Mr.  Eames  continued 
until  January,  1846,  when  he  was  chosen  rec- 
tor of  St.  Stephen's,  Providence.  In  March,  1 846, 
the  Rev.  James  H.  Carpenter  ^"^^  became  Re6lor 
of  the  churches  at  Wakefield  and  Tower  Hill, 
and  still  [1847]  continues  in  charge  of  them. 

\_^he  History  of  St.  PauTs  Churchy  Narragansett^  and  of 
other  Churches  in  the  Narragansett  Country  closes  here.'] 


Chapter  XXI 

TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEWPORT 

Memoir  of  Trinity  Churchy  Newport,  from  1698  to 
1 8 10.  Compiled  from  the  Records,  by  Henry  Bull, 
Esq.,  with  Notes  by  the  Re6lor,  Rev.  Francis  Vin- 
ton^'''' [1840-44]. 

UNTIL  nearly  the  close  of  the  seventeenth 
century  there  were  but  two  orders  of  Chris- 
tians in  the  town  of  Newport,  who  were  organ- 
ized and  regularly  met  together  for  the  purpose 
of  worship,  and  those  were  of  the  denominations 
of  Baptists,  and  Friends  or  Quakers. 

The  original  founder,  and  first  principal  pa- 
tron of  Trinity  Church,  in  Newport,  was  Sir 
Francis  Nicholson.^'*'  He  was  by  profession  a  sol- 
dier ;  was  Lieutenant-Governor  of  New  York 
under  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  and  at  the  head  of 
the  administration  of  that  colony  from  1687  ^^ 
1 690,  at  which  time  he  was  appointed  Governor 
of  Virginia,  and  so  continued  for  two  years.  From 
1694  to  1699,  he  was  Governor  of  Maryland, 
after  which  time  he  was  again  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia until  1705.  He  commanded  the  British 
forces  sent  to  Canada  in  171  o,  and  took  the  im- 
portant fortress  of  Port  Royal.  In  171 2,  he  be- 
came Governor  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  in  1 72 1  Gov- 
ernor of  Carolina.  He  returned  to  England  in 
June,  1725,  and  died  in  London  in  1728. 

Mr.  John  Lockyer,^'*^  an  Episcopal  clergy- 
man, commenced  preaching  in  Newport  about 
the  last  of  1698,  and  a  church  was  gathered  by 


152        The  Narragansett  Church 

that  means.  He  was  doubtless  procured  by  the 
instrumentality  of  Sir  Francis  Nicholson,  who 
was  then  Governor  of  Maryland ;  for  the  re- 
cords of  Trinity  Church  fully  sustain  the  faft 
that  Sir  Francis  was  its  founder.  The  people,  and 
more  especially  the  leading  gentlemen  of  the 
town,  were  well  disposed  toward  this  new  un- 
dertaking, and  a  considerable  parish  was  soon  es- 
tablished, with  sufficient  strength  and  zeal,  aided 
by  their  generous  patron,  to  build  a  handsome 
church,  which  was  completed  in  or  before  1702. 
"  Handsome,"  as  they  say  in  1702,  "finished  on 
the  outside,  .  .  .  the  inside  pewed  well,  but  not 
beautified." 

Thus  far  the  Church  had  made  its  way  with- 
out any  aid  from  the  mother  country.  In  the  year 
1702,  when  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  had  been  established 
and  incorporated  in  England,  the  wardens  of 
Trinity  Church  applied  to  the  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don, soliciting  the  aid  of  the  Society,  on  which 
application  the  Rev.  Mr.  James  Honyman  was 
appointed  missionary,  in  1704,  and  sent  over  to 
this  station.  The  Society,  as  a  further  encourage- 
ment, sent  also  as  a  present  to  the  church  a  valu- 
able library  ^''^  of  the  best  theological  books  of 
that  day,  consisting  of  seventy-five  volumes, 
mostly  folio.  Many  of  these  books  are  still  in 
the  possession  of  the  church.  Queen  Anne  pre- 
sented the  church  with  the  bell  which  was  re- 
ceived here  in  1709,  about  which  time  the  min- 
ister, wardens,  and  vestry  wrote  to  the  Gover- 
nor of  Massachusetts,  and  to  the  Rev.  Samuel 


Chapter  Twenty-first  153 

Myles,  minister  of  Boston,  requesting  each  of 
them  to  forward  money  left  in  their  hands  for  the 
church  by  Sir  Francis  Nicholson,  stating  their 
then  present  want  of  money  to  enable  them  to 
prepare  for  and  hang  the  bell  recently  received. 
Mr.  Honyman  was  a  gentleman  well  calculated 
to  unite  his  own  parish,  which  grew  and  flour- 
ished exceedingly  under  his  charge,  as  well  as  to 
conciliate  those  of  other  religious  persuasions, 
all  of  whom  he  "embraced  with  the  arm  of 
charity." 

In  the  year  171 3,  the  minister,  church  war- 
dens, and  vestry  petitioned  the  Queen  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  Bishops  in  America,  setting  forth 
the  great  benefi.ts  that  would  result  to  the  Church 
from  such  a  measure.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Kay,^'''*  the 
Colleftor  of  the  King's  revenues  in  Rhode  Is- 
land,who  afterwards  liberally  endowed  the  school 
connefted  with  this  church,  was  among  the  sign- 
ers to  this  petition.  In  the  year  1724,  Mr.  Hony- 
man writes  to  the  Society  in  England  as  follows  : 

"There  are  properly  belonging  to  my  church  in 
Newport,  above  fifty  communicants  who  live  in  this 
place,  exclusive  of  strangers.  The  church  people  grow 
now  too  numerous  to  be  accommodated  with  seats  in 
the  old  church,  and  many  more  offer  to  join  them- 
selves to  the  church  communion." 

Mr.  Honyman  proposed  to  the  church  mem- 
bers the  building  a  new  church,  and  subscribed 
thirty  pounds  himself  for  that  purpose.  The  peo- 
ple heartily  concurred,  and  he  soon  after  ob- 
tained subscriptions  amounting  to  one  thousand 
pounds  of  the  currency  of  the  country.  But  it 


154        The  Narragansett  Church 

was  estimated  the  building  would  cost  twice  that 
amount ;  however,  a  sufficient  sum  was  raised, 
and  in  the  year  1726  the  church  was  completed, 
and  Mr.  Honyman  held  the  first  service  in  it.  The 
body  of  the  building  was  seventy  feet  long,  and 
forty-six  feet  wide.  It  had  two  tiers  of  windows, 
was  full  of  pews,  and  had  galleries  all  round  to 
the  east  end.  It  was  acknowledged  by  the  people 
of  that  day  to  be  the  most  beautiful  timber  struc- 
ture in  America.  The  old  building  was  given  to 
the  people  of  Warwick,  who  had  no  church  of 
their  own.  We  have  every  reason  for  believing 
that  the  new  building  was  ere6led  on  the  site  of 
the  old  one,^'*^  for  the  old  one  appears  to  have  been 
disposed  of  by  gift,  to  make  room  for  the  new, 
which  would  not  otherwise  have  been  done  in  a 
town  rapidly  increasing  in  population,  and  in 
want  of  more  buildings.  At  the  time  of  which 
we  are  writing,  1724  to  1726,  there  were  Qua- 
kers and  two  sorts^'*^  of  Anabaptists  in  Newport, 
yet  the  members  of  the  Church  of  England  in- 
creased daily  ;  and,  although  there  were  not  to 
be  found  alive,  at  that  time,  four  of  the  original 
promoters  of  Church  worship  in  this  place,  yet 
there  were  then  above  four  times  the  number  of 
all  the  first.  Mr.  Honyman  had  under  his  care 
at  this  time  the  towns  of  Newport,  Freetown, 
Tiverton,  and  Little  Compton. 

The  history  of  the  church  has  been,  thus  far, 
principally  derived  from  the  publications  of  the 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  For- 
eign Parts,  and  from  letters  of  the  minister, 
wardens,  and  vestry  to  Queen  Anne,  to  the  Bishop 


chapter  Twenty-first  155 

of  London,  and  to  Sir  Francis  Nicholson,  copies 
of  which  have  been  preserved  in  the  first  Parish 
Records  of  the  church.  That  the  first  book  of  the 
Corporation  Records  has  been  lost  is  a  circum- 
stance much  to  be  regretted.  The  second  book 
begins  with  the  date  1731. 

A  letter  written  in  Newport,  and  published  in 
the  New  England  journal ^  Boston,  February  3, 
1729,  says  : 

"Yesterday,  arrived  here  Dean  Berkeley,  of  Lon- 
donderry, in  a  pretty  large  ship.  He  is  a  gentleman 
of  middle  stature,  of  an  agreeable,  pleasant,  and  ere6l 
asped:.  He  was  ushered  into  the  town  with  a  great  num- 
ber of  gentlemen,  to  whom  he  behaved  himself  after 
a  very  complaisant  manner.  'Tis  said  he  purposes  to 
tarry  here  with  his  family  about  three  months." 

The  connection  of  Dean  Berkeley  with  Trinity 
Church  calls  for  a  passing  notice  of  his  sojourn 
in  Newport,  where  he  arrived  by  a  circumstance 
purely  accidental.  He,  with  other  gentlemen,  his 
associates,  were  bound  to  the  island  of  Bermuda, 
with  the  intention  of  establishing  there  a  college 
for  the  education  of  the  Indian  youth  of  this 
country  —  apian,  however,  which  wholly  failed. 
The  captain  of  the  ship  in  which  he  sailed  could 
not  find  the  island  of  Bermuda,  and  having  given 
up  the  search  after  it,  steered  northward  until 
he  discovered  land  unknown  to  him,  which  he 
supposed  to  be  inhabited  only  by  savages.  On 
making  a  signal,  however,  two  men  came  on 
board  from  Block  Island  in  the  chara6ler  of 
pilots,  who,  on  enquiry,  informed  him  that  the 
harbour  and  town  of  Newport  were  near  and  that 


156        The  Narragansett  Church 

in  the  town  there  was  an  Episcopal  church,  the 
minister  of  which  was  Mr.  James  Honyman.  On 
which  he  proceeded  for  Newport,  but  an  ad- 
verse wind  caused  him  to  run  into  the  west  pas- 
sage, where  the  ship  came  to  anchor.  The  Dean 
wrote  a  letter  to  Mr.  Honyman,  which  the  pilots 
took  on  shore  at  Conanicut  Island,  calling  on  Mr. 
Gardiner  and  Mr.  Martin,  two  members  of  Mr. 
Honyman's  church,  and  informing  them  that  a 
great  dignitary  of  the  Church  of  England,  called 
Dean,  was  on  board  the  ship,  together  with  other 
gentlemen  passengers. ^^^  They  handed  them  the 
letter  from  the  Dean,  which  Gardiner  and  Mar- 
tin brought  to  Newport,  in  a  small  boat,  with  all 
possible  despatch.  On  their  arrival,  they  found 
Mr.  Honyman  was  at  church,  it  being  a  holy- 
day  on  which  divine  service  was  held  there.  They 
then  sent  the  letter  by  a  servant,  who  delivered  it 
to  Mr.  Honyman  in  his  pulpit.  He  opened  it,  and 
read  it  to  the  congregation,  from  the  contents  of 
which  it  appeared  that  the  Dean  might  be  ex- 
pe6led  to  land  in  Newport  at  any  moment.  The 
church  was  dismissed  with  the  blessing,  and  Mr. 
Honyman, with  thewardens,  vestry, church  and 
congregation,  male  and  female,  repaired  immedi- 
ately to  the  ferry  wharf,  where  they  arrived  a 
little  before  the  Dean,  his  family,  and  friends. 
The  foregoing  tradition  we  have  given  as  we 
received  it,  but  other  traditions  vary  a  little  from 
that ;  some  of  which  say  that  the  ship  made  no 
land  until  she  arrived  in  the  East  or  Sachuest 
River,  from  which  she  came  round  the  north  end 
of  Rhode  Island  to  Newport.  Others  say  the  first 


Chapter  Twenty-first  157 

land  she  made  was  Narragansett,  after  she  had  got 
into  the  west  passage.  But  we  have  found  no  other 
so  much  in  detail,  or  so  well  connefted  or  proba- 
ble, as  the  one  given.  The  Dean  purchased  a 
farm  ^"^  of  about  one  hundred  acres,  in  the  town  of 
Newport,  adjoining  one  of  about  the  same  extent 
belonging  to  the  Rev.JamesHonyman,  on  which 
Mr.  Honyman  resided.  The  Dean  built  him  a 
house  on  his  farm  for  his  residence,  which  he 
called  White  Hall, — ^a  name  it  still  retains.  The 
house  is  yet  standing.  It  is  situated  in  what  is 
now  the  town  of  Middletown,  about  three  miles 
from  the  State  House  in  Newport,  and  a  lit- 
tle back  from  the  road  which  runs  eastward 
from  the  town,  near  a  beautiful  little  watercourse 
running  southward  toward  Sachuest  Beach.  This 
White  Hall  estate  he  gave  to  Yale  College,  in 
Connecticut,  which  still  owns  the  fee.  He  built 
his  house  in  a  valley,  not  far  from  a  hill  com- 
manding an  extensive  view  of  the  ocean  and 
country.  He  preferred  the  valley  to  the  hill,  as 
he  said,  for  the  following  reasons  —  that  to  en- 
joy the  prospeft  from  the  hill,  he  must  visit  it 
only  occasionally;  that  if  his  constant  residence 
should  be  on  the  hill,  the  view  would  be  so  com- 
mon as  to  lose  all  its  charms.  During  his  resi- 
dence at  White  Hall,  he  wrote  his  ^Minute  Phil- 
osopher ^^"^  and  his  celebrated  poem,  so  oracular,  as 
to  the  future  destinies  of  America.  These  were 
principally  written  at  a  place  about  half  a  mile 
southwardly  from  his  house.  There  he  had  his 
chair  and  writing  apparatus  placed  in  a  natural 
alcove  which  he  found  in  the  most  elevated  parts 


158        The  Narragansett  Church 

of  the  Hanging  Rocks  (so  called) ,  roofed  and  only 
open  to  the  south,  commanding  at  once  a  view 
of  Sachuest  Beach,  the  ocean,  and  the  circumja- 
cent islands.  This  hermitage  was  to  him  a  favour- 
ite and  solitary  retreat.  He  continued  here  about 
two  years,  perhaps  a  little  longer.  He  was  cer- 
tainly here  as  late  as  September,  1 73 1 ,  as  appears 
by  a  supplementary  inscription  on  the  tomb- 
stone of  Nathaniel  Kay,  Esq.,  viz.: 

JOINING  TO  THE  SOUTH  OF  THIS  TOMB 

LIES  LUCIA  BERKELEY  DAUGHTER  OF  DEAN  BERKELEY 

OBIT  THE  5TH  SEPTEMBER  1731. 

His  preaching  ^^°  was  eloquent  and  forcible,  and 
attrafted  large  congregations  to  Trinity  Church. 
When  he  was  called  to  a  sphere  of  greater  use- 
fulness in  his  native  country,  he  was  not  forget- 
ful of  a  residence  which  was  endeared  to  him 
by  many  pleasing  recolleftions;  and  which, 
moreover,  possessed  for  him  a  melancholy  inter- 
est, from  the  circumstance  of  containing  the 
ashes  of  his  infant  daughter,  who  had  died  dur- 
ing his  sojourn  in  Newport.  After  his  return  to 
England  he  sent,  as  a  donation  to  Trinity  Church, 
in  the  year  1733,  a  magnificent  organ,  which, 
though  much  impaired  —  having  been  used  for 
upwards  of  a  century  —  and  destitute  of  the  mo- 
dern improvements,  still  possesses  some  pipes 
of  unrivalled  excellence. ^^'  This  organ  is  sur- 
mounted by  a  crown  in  the  centre,  supported  by 
two  mitres,  one  on  each  side. 

In  the  parish  records  of  Trinity  Church  is  the 
following  entry,viz. :"  1 729,  September  2 1 "  Hen- 
ry Berkeley,  son  of  Dean  Berkeley,  was  baptized 


Chapter  Twenty-first  159 

by  his  father,  and  received  into  the  Church,"  and 
on  the  1 1  th  of  June,  1 73 1 ,  the  baptism  of  "  Philip 
Berkeley,  Anthony  Berkeley,  Agnes  Berkeley, 
negroes,"  by  the  Dean,  is  noted. 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Kay,  who  came  from  England 
to  Rhode  Island,  as  colle6lor  of  the  King's  cus- 
toms for  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island,  was  the 
most  liberal  patron,  as  to  the  amount  of  his  pe- 
cuniary aid,  that  the  Church  ever  had.  His  house 
stood  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  dwelling- 
house  of  George  Engs,  Esq.,  on  the  hill  near  the 
head  of  Touro  street.  It  was,  when  built,  one  of 
the  most  spacious  and  elegant  private  dwellings 
in  the  town.  He  was  one  of  the  early  friends  of 
the  church,  for  we  find  his  name  as  one  of  the 
vestry  as  early  as  the  year  171 3.  At  his  death, 
he  devised  and  bequeathed  to  the  church  as  fol- 
lows: "  I  give  and  bequeath  my  dwelling-house 
and  coach  house  to  my  wife  during  her  natural 
life;  after  which  I  bequeath  both,  with  my  lots 
of  land  in  Rhode  Island,  and  four  hundred  pounds 
in  currency  of  New  England,  to  build  a  school- 
house,  to  the  minister  of  the  Church  of  England, 
(Mr.  Honyman)  and  the  church  wardens  and 
vestry  for  the  time  being — that  is  to  say,  upon 
trust  and  confidence,  and  to  the  intent  and  pur- 
pose, benefit  and  use  of  a  school  to  teach  ten  poor 
boys  their  grammar  and  the  mathematics  gratis  ; 
and  to  appoint  a  master  at  all  times,  as  occasion 
or  vacancy  may  happen,  who  shall  be  episco- 
pally  ordained,  and  assist  the  ministers,  (Episco- 
pal,) of  the  town  of  Newport,  in  some  proper  of- 
fice, as  they  shall  think  most  useful." 


i6o        The  Narragansett  Church 

The  property  thus  given  was  applied  to  the 
building  a  school-house,  and,  agreeably  to  the 
aforesaid  will,  establishing  a  school,  which  was 
continued  up  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  At 
the  close  of  that  war,  the  property  —  in  common 
with  all  real  estate  in  Newport  —  was  of  but  lit- 
tle value  to  its  owners,  and  its  income  not  more 
than  would  keep  it  in  repair.  The  school-house 
had  been  pulled  down  about  that  time.  Under 
such  circumstances,  the  school  was  of  course  dis- 
continued. The  whole  property,  at  the  time  of 
which  we  are  speaking,  would  not  probably  have 
sold  for  two  thousand  dollars,  although  it  was 
worth  much  more  before  the  war. 

The  affairs  of  the  Church  in  the  United  States 
were  then  at  a  very  low  ebb.  It  was  without  a 
head,  and  unpopular  with  the  people ;  Trinity 
Church,inNewport,being  depressed, perhaps,  as 
much  as  or  more  than  any  other.  She  was  for  years 
without  a  minister,  her  property  in  a  state  of  di- 
lapidation, her  income  suspended,  her  society  dis- 
couraged, and  her  whole  countenance  sickly  and 
declining.  Nor  were  these  all.  The  leading  men 
of  the  church  were  at  one  time  highly  incensed 
against  each  other,  and  parties  raged  in  the 
church,  which  carried  discord  into  every  class 
of  her  communicants  and  congregation.  Those 
divisions  were  sometimes  partially  laid  aside,  and 
sometimes  partially  revived,  until  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  Rev.  Theodore  Dehon,  who  took 
charge  of  the  parish  as  minister,  in  1797.  His 
gentlemanly  deportment  and  conciliating  man- 
ners, his  pulpit  eloquence,  his  mild  disposition, 


Chapter  Twenty-first  i6i 

and  his  sound  policy,  soon  brought  back  the  wan- 
dering sheep  to  the  common  fold.  The  church 
was  again  filled  with  a  numerous  congregation, 
earnestly  engaged  in  social  worship. 

The  property  given  by  Mr.  Kay  was,  from 
time  to  time,  partly  sold  and  partly  leased,  and 
in  conclusion  it  was  all  sold  ;  so  that,  at  the  pre- 
sent time,  all  of  it  has  passed  out  of  the  hands 
ofthe  Church  to  individuals,  and  the  avails  have 
nearly  or  quite  disappeared.  A  new  school-house 
was  built  in  1799,  and  the  school  was  revived 
and  continued  with  little  interruption.  At  first 
it  was  taught  by  a  master  episcopally  ordained, 
and  then  by  alayman,  until  the  first  public  school 
was  established  by  the  town  of  Newport ;  after 
which,  poor  boys  could  not  be  induced  to  at- 
tend the  church  school,  and  on  that  account  it 
was  discontinued.  Since  that  time  the  school- 
house  has  been  used  as  a  lecture-room,  and  also 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  church  Sunday 
school,  which  is  very  large. 

The  Church  may  be  considered  in  fault  for  not 
having  been  more  faithful  to  her  trust  in  the  case 
of  the  Kay  estate ;  but,  when  we  consider  the 
great  length  of  time  (over  one  hundred  and  six 
years)  since  this  bequest,  and  the  fate  which 
most  estates  in  trust  have  suffered  —  when  we 
consider  the  eifeft  ofthe  Revolutionary  war  upon 
everything  in  Newport  while  it  was  a  British 
garrison,  and  apparent  especially  for  ten  years 
after  —  when  we  look  at  the  [1847]  ^^^^  ofthe 
Franklin  Fund  in  Boston,  the  present  state  ofthe 
Bank  ofthe  United  States  in  Philadelphia,  or  the 


i62        The  Narragansett  Church 

worse  condition  of  many  other  moneyed  insti- 
tutions—  we  may  cease,  in  a  great  measure,  to 
condemn.  When  we  consider  that  a  congrega- 
tion think  more  of  their  present  wants  than  of 
the  future  —  that  they  will  not  tax  themselves 
heavily  as  long  as  they  can  avoid  it — ^that  they 
are  apt  to  hope  for  more  prosperous  days,  and  to 
expert  their  successors  to  do  as  much  as,  or  more 
than,  they  are  willing  to  do  themselves — -when 
we  consider  the  failure  of  almost  all  human  ap- 
pointments, the  insecurity  of  all  earthly  posses- 
sions, the  frailty  of  man,  and  the  decay,  even 
while  living,  of  his  most  ardent  hopes  and  ex- 
pectations—  we  ought  not  to  be  greatly  surprised 
that  the  will  of  the  dead  is  not  always  done.  In 
the  emphatic  language  of  Holy  Writ,  "Riches 
take  to  themselves  wings  and  fly  away." 

Mr.  Kay's  remains  lie  in  Trinity  church-yard, 
on  the  left  hand  immediately  as  you  enter  the 
gate,  covered  by  a  stone,  on  which  is  the  fol- 
lowing inscription: 

THIS  COVERS  THE  DUST  OF 

NATHANIEL  KAY,  ESQ^ 

COLLECTOR  OF  THE  KING'S  CUSTOMS 

IN   NEWPORT,  WHOSE  SPIRIT  RETURNED 

TO  GOD  ON  THE  14TH  DAY  OF  APRIL 

ANNO  DOMINI,  1734,  AFTER  IT  HAD  TABERNACLED 

HERE  59  YEARS.  HE,  AFTER  AN  EXEMPLARY 

LIFE  OF  FAITH  AND  CHARITY,  DID,  BY  HIS 

LAST   WILL,  AT  HIS  DEATH,  FOUND  AND 

LARGELY  ENDOW  TWO  CHARITY  SCHOOLS 

IN  NEWPORT  AND  BRISTOL 

WITHIN  HIS   COLLECTION. 

The  early  records  of  Trinity  Church  have  been 
for  many  years  lost.  A  few  meetings  only  of  the 


Chapter  Twenty-first  163 

wardens  and  vestry  were  recorded  in  the  Parish 
Record  Books.  With  these  exceptions,  we  have 
to  begin  the  regular  series  of  its  secular  affairs 
at  July  5, 173 1,  when  its  second  Book  of  Records 
begins. 

The  present  church  edifice  was  ere6ted  on  the 
site  where  the  old  building  stood,'^''^  in  1725,  and 
was  completed  in  1726.  The  building  was  soon 
found  to  be  too  small  for  the  rapidly  increasing 
congregation,  for,  in  1736,  two  doors  —  one  on 
the  north  side,  and  one  on  the  south,  near  the 
east  end  — were  shut  up,  and  pews  made  in  the 
cross  aisle ;  and  two  other  pews  were  built,  one 
on  each  side  of  the  altar.  In  1749  the  christen- 
ing pew  was  made  into  two  pews,  and  sold.  In 
1752,  the  vestry-room  and  church-wardens* 
pew  were  converted  into  private  pews  and  sold. 
In  1758,  the  cross  aisle  from  the  north  to  the 
south  door,  at  the  western  end  of  the  church,  was 
shut  up,  and  four  body  pews  made  for  the  use  of 
some  families  who  were  still  unaccommodated. 
In  1762,  the  church  edifice  was  greatly  enlarged 
by  moving  the  easterly  part  about  thirty  feet,  and 
adding  as  much  in  the  middle.  This  was  done  at 
the  expense  of  forty-six  gentlemen,  who  took  the 
pews  thus  added  in  full  satisfaction  for  the  ex- 
pense of  the  said  enlargement.  There  are  no  meet- 
ings of  the  congregation  recorded  earlier  than 
1742,  previously  to  which  time  the  reftor,  war- 
dens, and  vestry  held  their  meetings  of  business 
as  often  as  they  found  it  necessary,  and  when- 
ever a  vacancy  happened,  a  new  member  was  ad- 
mitted by  them. 


i64        The  Narragansett  Church 

In  the  year  1733,  Bishop  Berkeley  presented 
the  organ  (before  mentioned),  and  in  the  same 
year,  Jahleel  Brenton,  Esq./'^  presented  the  clock 
now  in  the  tower.  In  1739,  the  bell  presented  by 
Queen  Anne  was  cracked  :  and  was  taken  down, 
and  sent  to  London  to  be  recast.  This  year  the 
estate  left  by  Nathaniel  Kay,  Esq.,  appears  to 
have  come  into  the  possession  of  the  church.  In 
1 741,  the  first  school-house  was  built,  and  Mr. 
Cornelius  Bennett  appointed  school-master,  to 
serve  until  one  episcopally  ordained  could  be 
procured.  The  church  wrote  to  the  Society  in 
London,  requesting  it  to  send  a  school-master 
episcopally  ordained,  and  requesting  it  to  make 
some  provision  toward  his  support  —  which  ap- 
plication appears  to  have  been  unsuccessful;  and 
another,  made  in  1746,  shared  the  same  fate.  In 
1744,  by  a  vote  of  the  congregation,  the  number 
of  vestrymen  for  the  ensuing  year  was  limited 
to  sixteen. 

In  1747,  the  church  sent  to  London,  at  their 
expense,  a  young  man  named  Jeremiah  Leam- 
ing,"^  to  take  holy  orders,  that  he  might  be  qua- 
lified to  teach  the  church  school  in  accordance 
with  the  will  of  Mr.  Kay.  He  returned  in  Sep- 
tember, and  "produced  his  orders  as  Deacon  and 
Priest,"  and  also  a  letter  from  Dr.  Bearcroft,"^ 
Secretary  of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  signifying  that  the 
Society  did  approve  of  the  said  Mr.  Leaming  for 
a  school-master,  catechist,  and  assistant  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Honyman;  and  the  vestry  being  satis- 
fied with  the  vouchers,  he  entered  immediately 


Chapter  Twenty-first  165 

upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  said 
offices. 

In  1750,  the  Rev.Mr.  Honyman  died,^^"after 
having  lived  to  an  advanced  age,  and  to  see  his 
church  large  and  flourishing  and  the  parochial 
school  under  his  care  fully  established.  He  was 
buried  at  the  expense  of  the  church,  on  the  south 
of  the  passage  from  the  gate  to  the  church,  where 
his  tomb-stone  now  lies,  inscribed  as  follows : 

HERE  LIES  THE  DUST  OF 

JAMES  HONYMAN, 

OF  VENERABLE  AND  EVER  WORTHY  MEMORY 

FOR  A  FAITHFUL  MINISTRY  OF  NEAR  FIFTY  YEARS  IN 

THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  OF  THIS  TOWN,  WHICH, 

BY  DIVINE  INFLUENCE  ON  HIS  LABOURS,  HAS 

FLOURISHED  AND  EXCEEDINGLY  INCREASED. 

HE  WAS  OF  A   RESPECTABLE  FAMILY  IN  SCOTLAND, 

AN  EXCELLENT  SCHOLAR,  A  SOUND  DIVINE,  AND 

ACCOMPLISHED  GENTLEMAN,  A  STRONG  ASSERTER 

OF  THE  DOCTRINES  AND  DISCIPLINE  OF  THE  CHURCH 

OF  ENGLAND,  YET  WITH  THE  ARM  OF  CHARITY  EMBRACED 

ALL  SINCERE  FOLLOWERS  OF  CHRIST.  HAPPY  IN  HIS 

RELATIVE  STATION  OF  LIFE,  THE  DUTIES  OF  WHICH  HE 

SUSTAINED  AND  DISCHARGED  IN  A  LAUDABLE  AND 

EXEMPLARY  MANNER.  BLESSED  WITH  AN   EXCELLENT 

AND  VERY  VIGOROUS  CONSTITUTION,  WHICH  HE  MADE 

SUBSERVIENT  TO  THE  VARIOUS  DUTIES  OF  A  NUMEROUS 

PARISH,  UNTIL  A  PARALYTIC  DISORDER  INTERRUPTED  HIM 

IN  THE  PULPIT,  AND  IN  TWO  YEARS, WITHOUT  HAVING 

IMPAIRED  HIS  UNDERSTANDING,  CUT  SHORT  THE 

THREAD  OF  LIFE  ON  JULY  2D,  1750. 

On  the  nth  of  July,  only  nine  days  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  Honyman,  Mr.  Leaming  received 
a  temporary  appointment  as  minister  of  the 
church,  and  on  the  same  day  it  was  voted  to  ap- 
ply to  the  Venerable  Society  for  a  minister^^''  to 
supply  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of 
Mr.  Honyman.  The  church  was  in  a  measure  di- 


i66       The  Narragansett  Church 

vided  in  opinion  as  to  one  who  should  be  recom- 
mended to  the  Society,  or  whether  or  not  any 
recommendation  should  accompany  their  appli- 
cation ;  and  as  no  decisive  measures  were  taken, 
Mr.  Leaming  continued  to  officiate.  In  June, 
1 75 1,  the  church  agreed  to  ask  the  Society  to 
send  them  Mr.  Beach  ^"  as  minister. 

On  the  27th  of  August,  1752,  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  collect  by  subscription  a  sum 
sufficient  to  purchase  a  parsonage.  Their  success 
was  such,  that  in  December  the  house  was  pur- 
chased for  the  purpose  aforesaid.  The  same  year, 
the  Venerable  Society  cut  off  twenty  pounds  from 
theirformer  allowance  to  this  church  for  the  sup- 
port of  a  minister,  which  induced  the  proprietors 
of  the  pews  to  agree  to  subject  their  pews  to  an 
annual  tax,  so  long  as  the  Society  should  judge 
the  same  to  be  necessary.  The  said  agreement 
was  signed  by  nearly  all  the  pew-holders. 

In  1754,  Mr.  Thomas  Pollen  arrived,  having 
been  sent  by  the  Venerable  Society  as  mission- 
ary. The  congregation  accepted  him  as  such,  and 
wrote  a  letter  to  the  Society  thanking  it  for  its 
"piousand  charitable  design. .  .in  sendinghim." 
In  1760,  Mr.  Pollen  notified  the  church  of  his 
intention  of  leaving  them  very  soon,  when  they 
again  wrote  to  the  Society,  requesting  it  to  send 
another  missionary,  and  also  an  assistant  and 
school-master.  In  November,  Mr.  Pollen  left. 
The  church,  being  then  destitute  of  a  minister, 
called  the  Rev.  Marmaduke  Browne,''"^  of  Ports- 
mouth, New  Hampshire.  He  accepted  the  call, 
and  arrived  here  in  December.  The  Venerable 


Chapter  Twenty-first  167 

Society  was  then  requested  to  accept  Mr.  Browne 
as  its  missionary  here.  Mr.  Roger  Viets^"^^  had 
a  temporary  appointment  as  school-master.  In 
1762,  the  Venerable  Society  not  having  written 
to  this  church,  nor  sent  them  the  annual  allow- 
ance as  usual,  the  church  appointed  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Browne  permanently  as  its  minister,  with  a  sal- 
ary of  one  hundred  pounds  sterling  per  annum, 
"provided  the  Society  does  not  continue  its 
mission  here."  The  school  was  committed  to  the 
care  of  Mr.  John  Ernest  Knotchell,  the  organ- 
ist, as  a  temporary  measure.  In  1767,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Bisset  '""^  arrived  from  England,  having  come 
over  as  assistant  and  school-master,  and  his  pas- 
sage was  paid  by  the  church.  In  1768,  the  old 
tower  was  taken  down,  and  a  new  one  built, 
eighteen  feet  square  and  sixty  feet  high. 

In  1769,  the  church  petitioned  the  General 
Assembly  for  an  a6l  of  incorporation,^^'^  which 
was  granted.  In  May  of  this  year,  Mr.  Browne 
went  to  England  on  a  visit.  At  what  time  he  re- 
turned does  not  appear,  but  during  his  absence, 
Mr.  Bisset  supplied  his  place  as  minister.  There 
appears  to  have  been  much  contention  between 
the  church  and  Mr.  Bisset  respecting  his  com- 
pensation. 

October  27,  1770,  in  a  severe  gale  of  wind, 
the  spindle  on  the  steeple  was  broken  off  below 
the  upper  ball. 

On  the  Easter  Monday  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Browne,  the  congregation  chose  Mr.  Bisset  their 
minister,  until  the  Venerable  Society  was  heard 
from.  A  committee  was  also  appointed  to  write 


i68         The  Narragansett  Church 

to  the  Society  to  solicit  a  continuance  of  the 
mission,  and  recommending  Mr.  Bisset  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  them.  The  committee  were  also  to 
recommend  to  the  Society  the  appointment  of 
the  Rev.  Willard  Wheeler^"  as  assistant  and 
school-master. 

Up  to  this  time,  the  Society  for  the  Propaga- 
tion of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  had  supplied 
this  church  with  a  missionary,  and  contributed 
a  part  of  his  support;  but  after  the  decease  of  Mr. 
Browne,  it  declined  doing  so  any  longer.  Finding 
that  they  could  no  longer  expe6l  assistance  from 
other  quarters  in  supporting  the  church  and  the 
school,  but  that  they  must  rely  upon  their  own 
resources,  the  congregation,  on  the  28th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1 77 1, elefted  Mr.  Bisset  their  minister,  with 
a  salary  of  ^^  100  sterling,  or  /^i  33  6s.  8  J.  lawful 
money,  being  the  same  sum  that,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  the  Society,  they  had  paid  Mr.  Browne.  In 
May,  1772,  Mr.  Wheeler  was  chosen  assistant 
and  school-master,  which  place  he  held  till  1776. 
At  this  time,  the  congregation  and  vestry  became 
greatly  dissatisfied  with  his  school,  and  probably 
discharged  him,  as  no  more  is  heard  of  him  in 
the  Records.  From  1774 to  1784,  there  is  but  one 
meeting  of  the  vestry  on  record.  The  corpora- 
tion met  once  a  year,  on  Easter  Monday,  for  the 
choice  of  officers,  and  to  fix  a  price  for  their 
rents.  In  the  year  1780,  there  was  a  meeting  of 
the  corporation,  but  no  choice  of  officers  was  then 
made. 

On  Sunday,  the  8th  of  December,  1776,  the 
British  fleet  and  army  took  possession  of  the 


Chapter  Twenty-first  169 

island  of  Rhode  Island,  which  event  gave  a  new 
character  to  everything  here  of  a  local  nature. 
Mr.  Bisset  continued  with  the  church  until 
the  evacuation  of  the  island,  which  took  place 
Monday,  Oftober  25,  1 779.  Many  of  the  leading 
members  of  Trinity  Church  were  of  the  royal 
party,  who,  when  the  town  was  evacuated  by  the 
King's  troops,  went  with  them  to  New  York  — 
and  among  the  number  was  the  minister,  Mr. 
Bisset,  who  left  his  wife  and  child  behind,  in  the 
most  destitute  circumstances.  His  furniture  was 
seized  by  the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  but  after- 
ward, upon  the  petition  of  his  wife  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  it  was  restored  to  her;  and  she, 
with  her  child,  was  permitted  to  go  to  her  hus- 
band in  New  York. 

A  few  days  after  the  British  left  Newport, 
some  young  men  of  the  town,  and  among  them 
two  American  officers,  entered  the  church  and 
despoiled  it  of  the  altar-piece,  consisting  of  the 
King's  arms,  the  lion  and  the  unicorn.  They  were 
highly  ornamental,  and  were  placed  against  the 
great  east  window.  After  being  trampled  under 
foot,  they  were  carried  to  the  north  battery,  and 
set  up  for  a  target  to  fire  at.  The  other  emblems 
of  royalty,  being  out  of  reach,  were  suffered  to 
remain.  They  consist  of  one  royal  crown  on  the 
spire,  and  another  on  the  top  of  the  organ.  How- 
ever little  the  present  generation  may  care  for 
baubles  of  that  kind,  still  the  antiquity  of  those 
ornaments,  and  the  propriety  of  them  in  the  day 
when  they  were  put  up,  make  them  still  inter- 
esting—  as  indicating,  at  the  first  view,  to  the 


I70        The  Narragansett  Church 

most  perfeft  stranger,  the  antiquity  of  the  struc- 
ture which  contains  them — splendid  for  the 
days  and  country  in  which  it  was  erected.  This 
structure  has  never  been  subjected  to  the  hand 
of  modern  vandalism.  The  interior  is  now  the 
same  as  when  Dean  Berkeley  preached  in  it,  with 
the  exception  of  the  longitudinal  enlargement, 
and  the  pulpit  is  now  the  only  one  in  America 
ever  graced  by  the  occupancy  of  that  distin- 
guished prelate.  The  church  was,  at  the  time  we 
are  speaking  of,  without  a  minister.  As  it  had 
been  nursed  by  the  High  Church  party  in  Eng- 
land, it  was  unpopular  with  the  mass  of  the  peo- 
ple, who  were  writhing  under  the  scourge  in- 
flidted  by  that  very  party.  The  church  edifice, 
too,  had  been  spared  by  those  invaders  who  wor- 
shipped in  it,  while  the  other  places  of  worship 
in  the  town  they  had  desecrated  —  by  converting 
them  into  riding-schools  or  hospitals  —  and  every 
part  of  them  but  the  shells  they  had  demolished. 
There  was  no  service  in  the  church  immedi- 
ately after  Mr.  Bisset  left,  and  the  minister  of  the 
Six-Principle  Baptist  Society  of  this  town,  was 
allowed  to  occupy  the  church  with  his  numer- 
ous congregation  for  several  years,  until  his  own 
place  of  worship  had  been  repaired.  From  1781 
to  1786,  service  was  performed  in  the  church  by 
Mr.  John  Bours,^^^  a  lay  reader,  who,  in  1784, 
was  requested  by  the  church  to  receive  orders, 
and  become  its  minister,  which  he  declined.  In 
1786,  the  Rev.  James  Sayre^"was  engaged,  and 
settled  as  minister.  He  took  upon  himself  the 
duties  of  that  office  on  the  first  of  October.  In 


^ 


1 


^  ^ 

^v^ 


# 


Chapter  Twenty-first  171 

1787,  the  pews  built  in  the  west  aisle  of  the 
church  were  taken  down,  and  the  passage  from 
the  north  to  the  south  doors  again  laid  open.  In 
i788,Mr.  Bours,  and  a  majority  of  the  congrega- 
tion, came  to  an  open  rupture  with  Mr.  Sayre. 
They  charged  him  with  "refusing  to  put  a  vote 
in  the  Vestry  which  he  had  previously  agreed  to 
do."  They  apprehended,  from  conversation  had 
with  him,  "that  he  would  never  be  brought  to 
conform  to  any  form  which  might  be  agreed  on 
for  the  establishment  of  union  in  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  America,  then  supposed  to  be  in  agita- 
tion, if  it  differed,  in  any  manner,  from  the  forms 
of  the  Church  of  England,  excepting  the  prayers 
for  the  King."  They  charged  that,  on  being  asked 
"if  the  church  in  Pennsylvania  had  been  con- 
secrated, he  replied  that  they  were  no  church- 
men there,"  that  "he  received  to  the  altar  and 
administered  the  communion  to  a  vagrant  Por- 
tuguese, who  was  an  entire  stranger  to  him,  until 
he  saw  him  approaching  with  antic  postures  and 
gesticulations,  beating  his  breast  and  crossing 
himself"  and  that  "he  refused  to  administer  the 
sacrament  to  three  or  four  persons  of  as  good 
reputation  as  any  among  us,  who,  on  their  sick 
beds,  were  desirous  of  partaking  of  it."  Finally, 
they  say,  "Mr.  Sayre  having  been  chosen  our 
minister,  on  the  condition  that  he  would  retire 
when  any  division  should  take  place  on  his  ac- 
count, having  in  the  clearest  terms  resigned  his 
charge  and  having  since  declared  that  he  did  not 
depend  on  his  reelection,  we  no  longer  acknow- 
ledge him  as  minister.  Should  he  still  persist  in 


172       The  Narragansett  Church 

officiating  as  such,  we  can  view  him  in  no  other 
light  than  as  an  invader  of  our  rights  and  an 
intruder  and  a  usurper  in  the  church,  and  will 
exert  our  utmost  abilities  to  dispossess  him,  in 
which  we  are  confident  of  being  joined  by  a  re- 
spe6table  number  of  the  congregation." 

It  appears  that  Mr.  Sayresoon  left  the  Church, 
but  by  what  means  it  got  rid  of  him,  —  whether 
by  the  means  of  Bishop  Seabury,  whose  media- 
tion had  been  requested  by  a  portion  of  the  con- 
gregation, by  his  voluntary  relinquishment  of  his 
charge,  or  by  compulsion,  —  the  records  do  not 
inform  us.  By  a  vote  of  May  25,  1789,  the  Rev. 
Wilham  Smith,^«  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Narra- 
gansett, was  invited  to  visit  this  church  every 
other  week,  which  invitation  he  accepted,  with 
the  consent  of  his  own  church;  and,  in  Decem- 
ber following,  he  was  called  to  become  the  min- 
ister of  Trinity  Church,  which  he  accepted. 

This  Church  was  represented  by  Mr.  John 
Bours  in  the  Convention,  which  met  at  Boston 
in  1785,  by  which  Convention  the  union  of  the 
churches  in  this  and  the  neighbouring  states ^^^ 
was  settled  and  the  liturgy  and  forms  of  wor- 
ship to  be  used  in  future  agreed  upon.  When  Mr. 
Bours  returned,  a  corporation  meeting  was  called, 
which  agreed  to  all  the  alterations  adopted  by 
the  Convention,  but  at  the  Easter  meeting,  1 789, 
this  vote  was  rescinded.  These  two  adverse  de- 
cisions show  that  the  parties  in  the  Church  were 
about  equal  as  to  numbers.  In  1 790,  the  Churches 
of  Newport,  Providence,  and  Bristol  met  in  con- 
vention, and  declared  the  Right  Rev.  Samuel 


chapter  Twenty-first  173 

Seabury,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Church  in  Con- 
nedlicut,  Bishop  of  the  Church  in  this  State. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Smith  was  not  agreeably  set- 
tled, inasmuch  as  the  society  was  divided.  The 
feuds  which  originated  between  Mr.  Sayre  and 
Mr.  Bours  had  not  been  healed,  and  many  of 
the  minority  refused  to  attend  church  under  the 
preaching  of  Mr.  Smith,  but  preferred  holding 
meetings  of  worship  in  their  private  houses.  Mr. 
Smith  received  a  call  from  the  church  at  Nor- 
walk,  Conne6licut,  which  he  accepted,  embark- 
ing for  his  new  station  April  12,  1797. 

The  church,  on  the  14th  of  May,  invited  the 
Rev.  John  S.  J.  Gardiner,'''*^  assistant  minister  at 
Trinity  Church,  Boston,  to  come  to  Newport 
and  spend  a  few  Sundays;  on  which  acquaintance 
Mr.  Gardiner  was,  on  the  6th  of  August,  ap- 
pointed minister,  after  having  spent  two  Sun- 
days with  them.  In  Mr.  Gardiner's  answer  to  the 
church,  dated  September  1 1 ,  1 797,  he  calls  it  "  a 
scattered  church"  and  "a  divided  people."  For 
these  reasons,  and  because  his  own  church,  rather 
than  part  with  him,  had  raised  his  salary  to  eight 
hundred  dollars,  he  declined  the  invitation,  and 
recommended  to  the  church  a  young  man  named 
Theodore  Dehon.'^^ 

Mr.  Dehon  was  invited  by  letter  to  come  to 
Newport  for  a  few  Sundays,  and  preach  to  the 
congregation,  when  the  same  might  be  most 
convenient  to  himself.  In  the  meantime,  the  ser- 
vices of  the  Church  were  performed  gratuitously 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moscrop.  On  the  8th  of  O6I0- 
ber,  1797,  Mr.  Dehon  was  chosen  minister,  and 


174        The  Narragansett  Church 

requested  to  obtain  Orders.  November  19,  his 
salary  was  fixed  at  seven  hundred  dollars  per 
annum,  with  the  use  of  the  parsonage  and  lot, 
and  the  other  perquisites  of  said  office.  On  the 
7th  of  January,  1798,  he  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  his  ministry.  Mr.  Dehon  proved  very  accep- 
table to  the  society,  which  again  united  in  the 
bonds  of  harmony  and  Christian  fellowship, — 
flourished  and  increased  to  an  overflowing  con- 
gregation. The  pews  were  again  all  occupied  to  a 
degree  almost  equal  to  what  they  had  been  in 
the  days  of  Mr.  Honyman.In  1798,  a  vestry  was 
built  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  church.  In 
1799,  a  new  school-house  was  erected  on  the  lot 
where  the  old  one  formerly  stood.  The  old  one 
had  been  pulled  down,  as  we  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve, in  the  hard  winter  of  1780,  and  given  to 
the  poor  of  the  church  for  fuel.  The  Rev.  Abra- 
ham Bronson^^°  took  charge  of  the  school,  in  the 
new  school-house,  in  1 800,  but  resigned  in  1 80 1 , 
upon  which  the  Rev.  Clement  Merriam^^*  was 
chosen  assistant  minister  and  school-master,  and 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  the  same 
day  his  predecessor  finally  withdrew, —  April  25, 
1 802.  In  1 80 1 ,  a  committee  was  raised  to  "  draw 
a  plan  for  establishing  a  fund  for  the  support  of 
the  re6lor  of  the  church." 

In  December,  1802,  Mr.  Dehon,  in  conse- 
quence of  ill  health,  asked  and  obtained  leave  of 
absence  during  the  winter.  Mr.  Merriam  gave 
up  charge  of  the  school,  and  officiated  in  the 
church;andMr.Jabez  Whitaker  took  the  school 
in  Mr.  Dehon's  absence.  Mr.  Dehon  returned  in 


Chapter  Twenty-first  175 

May  or  June  from  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
where  he  had  resided  during  the  winter.  In  the 
winter  of  1803-4,  Mr.  Dehon  was  again  absent, 
and  as  there  was  then  no  assistant  minister,  Mr. 
John  Ward,^^''  of  Harwinton,  Connefticut,  who 
had  charge  of  the  school,  officiated  in  the  church 
as  lay  reader.  Mr.  Ward  was  invited  to  take  Or- 
ders and  become  assistant  minister,  but  declined. 

In  1804,  the  church  bell,  which  had  been  in 
use  sixty-three  years, cracked,  and  was  again  cast 
over.  In  November  of  the  same  year,  the  new 
bell  cracked,  and  another  new  one  was  cast  in  its 
place.  In  November,  1805,  Mr.  John  Ward, hav- 
ing obtained  Holy  Orders,  was  elected  assistant 
minister  and  school-master,  and  accepted. 

The  affairs  of  the  Church  having  become  set- 
tled under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Mr.  De- 
hon, but  little  worthy  of  notice  took  place  until 
1 809.  For  about  ten  years  previous  to  that  time, 
many  members  of  the  corporation  had  been  anx- 
ious that  the  church  should  possess  a  fund,  to 
be  invested,  the  interest  arising  to  be  exclusively 
appropriated  to  the  minister's  salary.  This  year 
they  set  themselves  to  work  in  earnest  to  accom- 
plish this  desirable  purpose.  On  the  second  of 
June,  the  vestry  appointed  a  committee  to  re- 
port a  plan  to  raise  a  permanent  fund ;  and  in 
August  the  said  committee  made  a  report,  which 
was  not  adopted.  Immediately  afterwards  an- 
other committee,  for  the  same  purpose,  was  ap- 
pointed and  their  report  adopted,  after  much  de- 
lay, December  9,  18 10,  measures  being  taken  to 
carry  it  into  effect.  The  members  of  the  congre- 


176        The  Narragansett  Church 

gation  were  solicited  to  subscribe  such  sums  as 
they  were  wilHng  to  contribute  toward  the  fund, 
—  no  one  being  obliged  to  pay  until  the  whole 
sum  subscribed  should  amount  to  six  thousand 
dollars.  In  a  short  time,  a  list  of  six  thousand  and 
fifty  dollars  was  obtained.  The  subscribers  being 
thus  held  for  the  amounts  subscribed,  agreeably 
to  the  terms  of  their  subscriptions,  the  money 
was  collected  and  invested  in  bank  stock;  the 
dividends  on  which  were  to  be  regularly  invested 
until  the  capital  should  amount  to  ten  thousand 
dollars,  after  which  the  yearly  income  was  to 
be  applied  toward  the  payment  of  the  minister's 
salary,  and  for  no  other  purpose.  This  was  fully 
accomplished,  in  due  time,  and  one  thousand 
dollars  added  by  the  bequest  of  Mr.  Samuel 
Brown,  of  Boston  (a  native  of  Newport),  making 
the  permanent  fund  eleven  thousand  dollars,  at 
the  original  cost  of  the  stock. 

In  February,  1 8 1  o,  the  Rev.  Theodore  Dehon 
resigned  the  rectorship  of  the  church,  but  ten- 
dered his  services  until  the  ensuing  autumn.  On 
the  28th  of  October,  he  preached  his  last  sermon 
to  this  congregation,  and  proceeded  to  exercise 
the  offices  of  re6lor  of  St.  Michael's  Church, 
Charleston,  and,  after  October  15,1812,  Bishop 
of  South  Carolina. 

When  Mr.  Dehon  retired, the  Rev.  Salmon'"*^ 
Wheaton  (who  married  a  sister  of  Mr.  Dehon, 
and  who  had  been  previously  engaged  to  preside 
over  the  church)  arrived  here  from  New  Haven, 
and  took  charge  of  the  parish.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Wheaton  presided  over  the  church  for  thirty 


Chapter  Twenty-first  177 

years,  when  he  resigned,  and  the  Rev.  Francis 
Vinton  ^'^  was  chosen  reftor,  and  entered  on  his 
duties  at  Easter,  1840,  and  was  instituted  redlor 
April  1 4, 1 84 1 ,  by  the  Right  Rev.  Alexander  V. 
Griswold,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese. 

The  following  statistics  are  added  as  interesting 

proofs  of  the  Divine  Blessing: 

Persons  baptized  (from  1698  to  1750),  1579;  mar- 
riages ^  455;  burials^  731. 

From  1750  to  1785,  persons  baptized,  ii43;  car- 
riages^ 30;  burials  J  130. 

From  1785  to  I'jg'], persons  baptized,  246;  marriages, 
72;  burials,  116. 

From  1797  to  18 10,  persons  baptized,  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Dehon,  212;  marriages,  70;  burials,  ii<). 

From  1 8 10  to  1840,  persons  baptized,  by  Rev.  S. 
Wheaton,  568;  marriages,  120;  burials,  448. 

From  1 840  to  \%^i, persons  baptized,  by  Rev.  Francis 
Vinton,  147;  marriages,  16;  burials,  40. 

'Total,  persons  baptized,  3895;  marriages,  763  ;  burials, 
1594- 


RECTORS 

D''  Bethune*  ?  -1700 

John  Lockyer  1701-1704 

James  Honyman  1 704- 1750 

James  Leaming  1750-1754 

Thomas  Pollen  1754-1760 

Marmaduke  Browne  1760-1771 

George  Bisset  1771-1779 

James  Sayre  1786-1788 

William  Smith  1789-1797 

*  There  is  sufficient  evidence  that  the  Rev.  D'^  Bethune  was,  at 
Newport,  "Licens'd  to  be  the  Minister  of  y'  Place,"  as  early  as 
Oftober,  1700.  The  earliest  record  of  the  Rev.  John  Lockyer  as 
minister  is  1 701.  He  remained  until  about  1704,  dying,  in  Bos- 
ton, about  April  20th  of  that  year. 


178        The  Narragansett  Church 

Theodore  Dehon  1 798-1 8 10 

Salmon  Wheaton  18 10-1840 

Francis  Vinton  1 840- 1844 

Robert  Bernard  Hall  1844- 1846 

Darius  Richmond  Brewer  1846-1855 

Alexander  Gardiner  A'lcrcer  1 85 5-1 860 

Oliver  Sherman  Prescott  1861-1863 

John  Henry  Black  1863-1866 

Isaac  Patrick  White  1866-1875 

George  John  Magill  1876-1898 

Henry  Morgan  Stone  1 899-1904 

Walter  Lowrie  1905-1907 

Stanley  Carnaghan  Hughes  1907" 


Chapter  XXII 

ST.  John's  church,  providence 

Saint  'Johns  Churchy  Providence^  Rhode  Island,  as 
gathered  from  the  Records,  by  William  T,  Dorrance, 
Esq, 

ON  the  4th  of  March,  1754,  the  congregation 
of  King's  Church  (now  Saint  John's)  voted 
"that  all  transadtions  of  the  congregation,  and 
of  the  church-wardens  and  vestry,  be  from  hence- 
forward written  fair  on  a  book."  From  that  time 
to  the  present,  a  record  of  the  proceedings  has 
been  regularly  kept.  In  the  first  volume  of  the 
records  is  a  short  memorandum  of  the  history  of 
the  Church  previous  to  1754,  without  date  or 
signature.  The  following  is  an  extract,  viz.: 

"The  Rev.  Mr.  David  Humphreys,  D.D.,  Secre- 
tary to  the  honourable  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  in  his  historical  account 
ofthe  foundation,  proceedings  and  success  of  their  mis- 
sionaries in  the  colonies  of  America,  to  a.d.  i  72,8,  says 
that  the  Rev.  Mr.  James  Honyman  was  the  first  mis- 
sionary ^^^  for  Newport  or  Rhode  Island,  and  that  he 
preached*  several  times  in  Providence;  and  at  one 
time,  to  wit,  anno  \']ii,  in  the  open  fields,  to  more 
people  than  he  had  ever  before  seen  together  in  Ame- 
rica; and  that  the  people  of  Providence  then  began 
and  gathered  money  to  build  a  church,  he  says,  to  the 
value  of  ^770;  that  Colonel  Joseph  Whipple  gave 
them  ^100, and  vidlualled  the  labourers, who  began  to 
build  said  church  onSt.  Barnabas'sDay,beingthe  1  ith 

*  According  to  a  pamphlet  published  by  the  United  Society  of  St. 
John's  Church,  Mr.  Honyman  preached  in  Providence  as  early  as 
1720. 


i8o        The  Narragansett  Church 

day  of  June,  a.  d.  1722.^^'' And  he  says  the  Rev.  Mr. 
George  Pigot  was  appointed  the  first  minister  to  their 
church,  A.  D.  1723.  Mr.  Pigot  was  of  a  roving  disposi- 
tion, and  soon  moved  away  from  them.*  Then  Par- 
son Joseph  0'Harra^°°was  appointed,  but  he  behaved 
unworthily  and  was  dismissed.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Arthur 
Browne ''°^'^'^^  was  the  third  redor,  and  was  highly  es- 
teemed among  them,  so  that  they  purchased  a  glebe 
in  Providence  Neck,  and  gave  him  a  deed  in  fee  sim- 
ple for  the  same.  He  was  after  some  time  persuaded 
away  from  Providence ^^^  to  the  church  in  Portsmouth, 
New  Hampshire,  by  Governor  Dunbar.  The  people 
parted  reludantly  with  him,  and  he  nobly  and  gener- 
ously gave  back  the  glebef  and  house  thereon,  by 
deed,  to  Messrs.  Colonel  William  Coddington,  Charles 
Bardine,  Esq.,  and  Captain  John  Brown,  in  trust,  for 
the  use  of  any  officiating  or  settled  minister  in  said 
church  and  congregation  of  Providence.  J  The  Rev. 
Mr.  John  Checkley  was  appointed  fourth  minister, 
and  came  here  May,  1739.  He  presided  here,  and  was 
steadily  in  duty,  and  lived  on  the  glebe  land  in  the 
parsonage,  until  the  year  1754,  when,  after  a  long  and 
lingering  illness,  he  there  died.  During  his  sickness, 
and  after  his  decease,  many  of  our  Episcopal  clergy 
visited  us,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Orem,  chaplain  to  the 
King's  ship  JasonyServed  our  church  several  months." 

This  memorandum  continues  down  to  the  min- 
istry of  the  Rev.  Abraham  L.  Clarke.  But  the  re- 

*Mr.  Pigot  removed  in  1726  or  1727. 

tThis  glebe  contained  eighteen  acres,  with  a  dwelling-house,  &c. 

This  estate  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Thomas  Sessions.  [The 

house  has  lately  been  entirely  removed  (1906).] 

{According  to  the  deeds  in  the  town  records,  Joseph  Whipple,  and 

others,  sold  the  estate  to  Arthur  Browne,  in  1734,  for  two  hundred 

and  fifty  pounds  lawful  money.  New  England  currency;  and  in 

1737,  Arthur  Browne  conveyed  it  as  above  mentioned  for  the  same 

consideration,  namely,  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds. 


tVl^^A'  .Si/'y/^jn^^jr^/j^ 


''t't^jT  ^/J/y-fyf^t^^y 


fViyO^ly^^y^ 


chapter  Twenty-second  i8i 

cords  now  commenced,  and  in  them  we  find  the 
following  vote,  March  [May]  4,  1754: 

"  Voted  J  That  the  worthy  Society  for  the  Propaga- 
tion of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  be  acquainted  of 
the  death  of  our  late  reverend  minister,  their  mission- 
ary, and  to  entreat  their  charity  to  send  us  another." 

The  following  letter  was,  in  consequence  of 
the  above  vote,  written  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bear- 
croft,"'^  secretary  of  the  Society: 

Providence^  March  [May]  ^th^  1754 
Rev.  Sir: 

The  congregation  of  King's  Church  acquaint  the 
worthy  Society  of  the  death  of  our  minister,  their  late 
missionary,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Checkley,  the  15th  of  last 
month.^^' 

The  church-wardens  and  vestry  having  informed 
the  Society  of  his  long  indisposition,  and  the  conse- 
quence of  it,  with  humble  requests  for  their  thoughts 
of  us,  we  have  only  to  hope  in  the  continuation  of  their 
charity  in  providing  us  a  minister  as  soon  as  they  think 
convenient.  In  the  meantime,  we  shall  continue  to  beg 
the  favour  of  the  several  reverend  clergy,  their  mis- 
sionaries, who  can  oblige  us.  It  being  now  above  two 
years  since  Mr.  Checkley  did  officiate,  we  are  not  in 
that  form  and  order  we  could  wish,  and  which,  no 
doubt,  a  worthy  successor  to  him  would  soon  bring 
us  into. 

Though  the  late  gentleman  made  several  small  im- 
provements to  the  glebe  and  house,  yet  its  fences  be- 
ing out  of  repair,  as  well  as  the  house,  which  will  be 
expelled  by  his  successor  to  be  put  into  order,  and 
the  church  likewise  wanting  a  great  deal  of  repair,  and 
there  beingfewamongusable  to  contribute  toward  such 
charges,  we  are  very  sorry  we  cannot  promise  any  cer- 
tain sum  to  our  minister  per  annum,  until,  please  God, 


i82        The  Narragansett  Church 

the  present  congregation  is  not  only  in  better  order  or 
condition,  but  increased.  In  the  meantime,  we  can 
only  assure  the  worthy  Society  we  will  do  our  best, 
which  we  hope  will  no  way  fall  short  of  what  the  late 
incumbent  received.  We  pray  for  the  blessing  of  God, 
that  through  the  worthy  Society's  kind  and  good  in- 
tentions in  their  charity,  we  may  be  provided  with  a 
suitable  gentleman  of  ability  and  address  to  regather 
our  flock  and  increase  it,  by  having  a  due  influence  on 
the  variety  of  sectaries  and  unbelievers  we  are  unhap- 
pily situated  among.  Though,  as  the  poor  encourage- 
ment we  give,  besides  the  worthy  Society's  charity, 
does  not  entitle  us  to  what  we  so  wish,  and  as  to  be 
longer  without  a  minister  will  hurt  us  more  and  more, 
we  humbly  entreat  their  regard  to  favour  us,  as  soon  as 
possible,  with  a  gentleman  who  may  offer,  they  think, 
the  most  suitable;  and  we  promise,  whoever,  please 
God,he  may  be,  to  endeavour  to  make  all  things  in  our 
power  agreeable  to  him,  with  a  just  sense  of  our  de- 
pendence, gratitude,  and  duty  to  the  worthy  Society. 
Remaining,  with  all  due  acknowledgements  and  re- 
spects, theirs  and.  Reverend  Sir,  your  obliged  and 
humble  servants. 

Signed,  James  Andrews, 

David  Brown, 

Church-wardens 

John  Merritt,  William  Astor,  George  Taylor, 
Samuel  Chace,  Henry  Paget,  Benjamin  Brown, 
Joseph  Brown,  Peter  Brown,  Henry  Sweeting, 
Joseph  Sweeting,  Joseph  Field,  Gideon  Craw- 
ford, Robert  Magell,  William  Hopkins,  Benja- 
min Whipple,  Charles  Brown,  Daniel  Brown, 
Israel  Bullock,  John  Brown,  John  Burlcit  [Bur- 
dick?']^  John  Bardine,  John  Cole. 

At  this  meeting  an  annual  tax  was  laid  upon  the 
pews,  which,  says  the  vote,  "was  a  new  thing.*' 


chapter  Twenty-second  183 

The  tax  was  to  be  eighty-two  shillings  a  year, 
old  tenor.  If  not  paid,  the  pews  were  to  be  for- 
feited, and  "sold  to  such  members  of  the  Church 
of  Engl  a  fjd  di^^-wiW  be  subject  to  needful  taxes." 
In  January,  1755,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Troutbeck,''°' 
missionary  at  Hopkinton,  Massachusetts,  ex- 
pressed a  willingness  to  quit  that  station  to  take 
charge  of  King's  Church,  provided  the  Society's 
consent  could  be  obtained.  A  letter  was  accord- 
ingly written  by  the  wardens,  requesting  the  ap- 
pointment of  that  gentleman.  In  the  meantime, 
the  Rev.  Matthew  Graves,  of  New  London,  of- 
fered his  services  to  the  church,  provided  repairs 
could  be  put  upon  the  glebe,  and  the  expenses  of 
his  removal  paid.  The  congregation,  however, 
concluded  that  "in  honour  to  Mr.  Troutbeck, 
they  must  now  wait  the  resolves"  of  the  Society. 
In  December,  1755,  an  answer  was  received  to 
their  letter  by  the  hand  of  the  Rev.  John  Graves, 
of  which  the  following  is  a  copy: 

Gentlemen: 

The  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts  had,  some  time  before  the  receipt  of 
your  letter,  in  favour  of  Mr.  Troutbeck,  appointed 
the  bearer,  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Graves,  to  be  their 
missionary  to  you,  a  most  pious  and  worthy  clergy- 
man of  the  Church  of  England,  who  has  resigned 
his  preferment  in  England  to  promote  Christ's  true 
religion  among  you.  He  will,  I  am  firmly  persuaded, 
administer  richly  to  you  in  spiritual  things,  and  I 
hope  you  will  not  be  scanty  to  him  in  carnal  things, 
— and,  therefore,  the  Society  expeds  and  requires 
of  you  that  you  put  your  church  in  good  and  decent 
repair,  and  purchase  a  good  and  decent  house,  with 


i84        The  Narragansett  Church 

a  good  glebe  annexed  thereto  for  a  missionary,  if  not 
done  already,  and  pay  him  at  least  twenty  pounds 
sterling  per  annum.  These  are  the  conditions  without 
which  no  new  missions  are  granted,  and  may  with  the 
greatest  reason  be  insisted  on  by  the  old  one,  and  must 
be  complied  with,  as  you  hope  for  a  continuance  of  a 
missionary  among  you.  Recommending  you  and  Mr. 
Graves  to  the  Divine  Blessing,  I  am,  gentlemen,  your 
very  faithful  servant  in  Christ, 

Philip  Bearcroft,"'^  Secretary 

P.  S.  Mr.  Graves  is  likewise  to  officiate  at  Taunton. 

"  Upon  the  public  perusal  thereof,  the  said  reverend 
gentleman,  Mr.  John  Graves,  was  cheerfully  received 
by  us." 

"Mr.  Graves,"  says  the  memorandum  before  re- 
ferred to,  "lived  at  the  parsonage-house  and  at- 
tended the  service  until  July,  1776,  when  he  was 
pleased  to  absent  himself  from  duty,  though  very 
earnestly  entreated  at  sundry  times  to  keep  up  the 
worship,  saying  he  could  not,  as  prayers  for  King 
George  were  forbidden  then  throughout  Ame- 
rica. By  reason  of  war's  taking  place  between  us 
and  Old  England,our  Church  suffered  very  much, 
a  long  time,  by  this  turn  of  Mr.  Graves." 

In  1758,  a  difference  occurred  between  Mr. 
John  Merritt,  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Church,  and  the  reverend  re6lor,  of  which  the 
Society  in  London  appointed  the  Rev.  Henry 
Caner,^"'*  of  Boston,  to  take  cognizance. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  April,  1758 — Present, 
Mr.  Graves,  red:or,  the  church-wardens,  vestrymen, 
and  some  members  of  the  church,  Mr.  George  Taylor, 
Colonel  John  Andrews,  Mr.  Henry  Paget,  and  Mr. 


chapter  Twenty-second  185 

Samuel  Chace, — a  committee  chosen  last  Easter  Mon- 
day to  reconcile  Mr.  John  Merritt  to  our  church, 
make  report,  that  they  met  him  at  Colonel  John  An- 
drews's house,  and  used  their  best  endeavours  for  that 
purpose, but  that  Mr.  Merritt  insisted  that  Mr.  David 
Brown  had  publicly  offended  him,  in  giving  the  redor 
the  contribution,  and  that  the  redor  had  publicly  of- 
fended him  in  setting  him  aside  (as  he  termed  it)  ever 
since,  and  that  he  would  have  public  knowledge  and 
satisfa6lion  of  each  of  said  parties,  before  he  would  be 
reconciled:  Voted^  therefore,  that  we  disapprove  Mr. 
Merritt's  censure  of  Mr.  Brown  for  giving,  and  of  the 
red:or  for  receiving,  the  contribution,  and  are  so  far 
from  blaming  either  of  them,  that  we  entirely  approve 
of  both  their  conduct  herein,  as  not  disagreeable  to  the 
intent  and  design  of  the  vote*  of  the  Church,  passed 
in  the  time  of  the  vacancy,  respecting  the  contribu- 
tions; and  as  no  offence  whatever  was  intended  against 
Mr.  Merritt.  Mr.  David  Brown,  church-warden,  in- 
forms this  meeting,  that  Mr.  John  Merritt  has  wrote 
(withouttheprivityoftheChurch)  an  unhandsome  let- 
ter to  the  Society,  wherein  he  boldly  calls  Mr.  Graves 
a  Methodist;  and  also  asserts  that  the  letter  of  thanks, 
wrote  to  the  Society,  by  the  Church,  in  Mr.  Graves's 
favour,  was  false  and  that  the  signers  of  said  letter 
were  a  weak  people, — which  aftion  of  Mr.  John  Mer- 
ritt (if  true)  we  disapprove  and  highly  discommend,  as 
tending  to  great  disorder  and  towards  breaking  up  our 
Church." 

In  1760,  this  difference  was  amicably  adjusted ^^' 
by  the  parties'  "exchanging  mutual  forgiveness 

*Thc  following  is  probably  the  vote  alluded  to:  "That  not  only 
the  money  colledled  by  contribution,  but  at  the  Sacrament,  be  ap- 
plied to  the  general  use  of  the  Church,  until,  please  God,  we  have 
a  minister,  when  that  collefted  at  the  Sacrament  or  oblation  money, 
after  the  charges  attending  that  divine  service  are  paid,  to  be  by 
the  church-wardens  applied  to  the  accustomed  charitable  uses." 


1 86        The  Narragansett  Church 

in  presence"  of  the  congregation.  This  reconci- 
liation was  principally  owing  "to  the  friendly- 
interposition  of  Mr.  Matthew  Graves,  of  New 
London." 

In  1 76 1  or  1762,  a  gallery  was  built  at  the 
west  end  of  the  church.  In  1762,  it  was  voted, 
that  no  proprietor  of  a  pew  be  allowed  to  transfer 
his  right  thereto  without  the  consent  of  the  Church. 
This  year  the  thanks  of  the  congregation  were 
voted  to  Mr.  John  Merritt  for  his  generous  dona- 
tion of  fifty  pounds  sterling  toward  the  repairs  of 
the  church  and  also  for  his  still  further  kind- 
ness in  advancing  most  of  the  money  to  purchase 
a  lot  adjoining  the  church-ground  of  Mason 
Wheeling  (Wheaton?).  This  year  the  church 
was  extensively  repaired. 

In  1767,  the  thanks  of  the  congregation  were 
voted  to  "Captain  Whipple  for  his  late  bene- 
fa6lion  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  of  land,  in 
order  to  enlarge  our  church-yard."  In  1 771,  John 
Merritt  left  to  the  Church  a  legacy  of  one  hun- 
dred pounds  sterling.  In  1772,  King's  Church 
was  incorporated.^^"*  In  1 774,  it  was  voted, "  That 
the  pew  of  Samuel  Chace,  Esq.,  be  free  from  all 
taxes  for  his  long  and  special  services  to  the 
Church."  In  April,  1 776,  it  was  voted, "  That  Mr. 
John  Graves,  our  late  pastor,  as  he  has  been 
pleased  to  leave  this  Church  destitute,  be  paid  off 
for  his  past  services,  to  the  date  of  his  letter  of 
dismission,  and  that  the  leaders  and  such  of  the 
congregation,  as  please,  agree  with  some  worthy 
clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  Church  to  keep  up 
the  service  and  worship  of  God  in  the  best  man- 


Chapter  Twenty-second  187 

ner  they  can  for  a  short  time  forward."  "After 
this,"  says  the  memorandum, 

"  Mr.  Wheeler^"  was  employed  here  fDr  about  nine 
months.  Then  letters  of  invitation  were  sent  around 
for  assistance,  from  Boston  and  Connedlicut,  and  then 
came  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jarvis,^''^  of  Middletown,  Connec- 
ticut, and  officiated  three  several  Sundays;  also  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Viets,^^^  of  Simsbury,  Conne6licut,  three 
weeks.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Parker^^''  and  Lewis,  of  Boston, 
assisted  us  twice  each.  Then  Mr.  Thomas  F.  Oliver 
came  as  a  lay  reader,  till  peace  took  place,  when  Mr. 
Graves  offered  his  service  again  to  duty,  but  was  re- 
fused, we  being  under  contrad:  to  Mr.  Oliver,  who  was 
agreeable,  and  had  moved  his  family  up  here,  and  was 
afterwards  ordained,  first  deacon,  then  priest,  by  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Seabury,  and  served  until  Sunday, 
September  3,  1786,  when  being  invited  down  to  Mar- 
blehead,  among  his  friends  and  relations,  we  parted 
by  mutual  consent,  and  in  love  and  harmony. 

"Immediately  upon  this,  letters  of  invitation  were 
sent  to  the  Rev.  Moses  Badger,^='°  at  Newport.  He 
accepted  our  call,  and  moved  up  with  his  family  on 
Thursday,  September  28,  1786;  and  he  sickened  and 
died  with  a  dropsy,  on  Thursday,  September  20, 1792. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Graves  sickened  and  died  November  14, 
1785.  After  the  decease  of  our  worthy  pastor,  Mr. 
Badger,  our  friend  Parson  Smith,'''*^  of  Newport,  ad- 
vised us  to  address  and  invite  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bowden, 
of  Hartford,  to  our  church.  Letters  were  accordingly 
written  to  him  on  that  subjeft,  but  he,  having  lost  his 
voice,  and  his  lungs  being  affected,  excused  himself  as 
unable,  and  kindly  recommended  us  to  invite  the  Rev. 
Abraham  L.  Clarke,  as  a  suitable  person  for  our  church 
and  congregation.  We  wrote,  and  invited  him  from 
Huntington, Connecticut,  where  he  left  two  churches, 
it  being  too  much  for  his  ability  to  attend  to  them.  He 


i88        The  Narragansett  Church 

came  here  with  his  family  and,  on  Easter  Sunday, 
March  31,  1793,  began  services  in  our  church,  this 
being  done  with  the  approbation  of  our  worthy  and 
most  reverend  father  in  God,  Bishop  Seabury." 

From  I  ^j"-]  to  1 78 1 ,  no  business  appears  to  have 
been  transadted  at  the  meetings,  except  con- 
tinuing the  wardens  in  office.  In  1781,  it  was 
voted,  "That,  whereas  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Graves 
hath  removed  himself  from  the  congregation 
of  the  church,  by  neglecting  public  services 
therein,  and  that  it  has  become  necessary  that 
application  be  made  to  some  other  gentleman 
in  Episcopal  orders  to  supply  his  place,  a  com- 
mittee be  appointed  to  wait  on  Mr.  Graves,  and 
inform  him,  that  it  is  the  resolution  of  this  con- 
gregation, that  he  remove  from  the  house  and 
glebe  which  he  now  occupies,  by  the  first  day 
of  June  next,  or  sooner,  if  convenient,  as  he 
considers  himself  no  longer  our  pastor,  and  that 
he  deliver  said  committee  all  the  books  and 
other  effefts  belonging  to  the  Church."  By  a 
memorandum,  it  appears  that  the  books  which 
were  presented  by  the  London  Society  were 
demanded,  but  Mr.  Graves  declined  delivering 
them. 

On  Sunday,  June  19,  1782,  "At  the  request 
of  the  wardens,  the  Rev.  Mr.  William  Rogers,^^' 
a  Baptist  clergyman,  preached  in  the  church, 
this  and  the  following  Sunday,  and,  on  the  30th 
of  the  same  month,  he  again  preached,  and  the 
wardens  were  requested  to  wait  upon  and  thank 
him  for  this  day's  service,  and  present  him  with 
the  contribution,  and  ask  him  to  officiate  in 


chapter  Twenty-second  189 

church  next  Sunday  in  his  way^  provided  he  can- 
not conform  to  our  liturgy,  but  if  he  will  con- 
form, the  congregation  invite  him  further  to 
serve  them." 

On  April  21,  1783,  upon  "an  application, 
by  letter,  dated  the  i  5th  instant,  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Graves,  for  readmission  into  this  Church  as  pas- 
tor, it  is  voted  by  all  present,  except  David 
Brown,  that,  for  various  reasons,  it  cannot  be 
complied  with." 

In  1785,  the  church  obtained  a  grant  of  a 
lottery  from  the  Legislature,  "for  the  purpose 
of  building  a  chancel  and  repairing  the  church." 
On  April  3,  1785,  agreeably  to  a  vote,  passed 
on  Easter  Monday,  1784,  a  draft  of  a  letter  to 
the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts  was  laid  before  the  church,  and 
is  as  follows,  to  wit: 

[to  the  rev.  dr.  morice,  secretary,  etc.] 

Providence^  R.I.,  April  T^d^  1785 
Dear  Sir  : 

To  avoid  the  censure  and  meet  the  approbation  of  those 
we  resped  and  esteem,  is  a  desire  natural  to  the  human 
heart.  We  flatter  ourselves,  therefore,  that  this  address, 
prompted  by  that  desire,  will  not  be  deemed  imperti- 
nent by  a  society  we  revere,  and  whose  establishment 
reflefts  the  highest  honour,  as  well  upon  those  digni- 
fied charaders  who  support,  as  those  who  founded  it. 
We  imagine.  Sir,  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Graves 
has  already  acquainted  the  Society  with  his  having,  long 
since,  declined  to  perform  divine  service  in  the  Epis- 
copal Church  in  this  town,  and  that  he  has  endeav- 
oured to  justify  his  conduft  by  the  best  means  in  his 
power.  But, in  doing  this,  we  have  cause  to  believe  that 


190         The  Narragansett  Church 

he  has  represented  us  in  an  unfriendly  manner.  To  ob- 
viate, in  some  measure,  the  unfavourable  preposses- 
sions which  may  have  been  the  consequence  of  his  cen- 
sures, we  take  the  liberty  herewith  to  transmit  copies 
of  all  the  letters  which  have  passed  between  him  and 
the  congregation,  since  he  first  shut  up  the  church,* 
by  which,  we  think,  it  will  appear  that,  instead  of  per- 
secution, he  has  met  with  resped;  and  tenderness  from 
us.  You  will  observe  that  there  are  several  letters  from 
him  to  which  no  reply  was  made,  not  because  they 
were  unanswerable,  but  because  we  wished  to  avoid 
disputes  and  quarrels  as  much  as  possible.  But  we  must 
here  observe,  that  the  treatment  of  which  he  so  much 
complained,  was  far  more  favourable,  than  any  other 
clergyman,  in  similar  circumstances,  one  or  two  ex- 
cepted, received  in  America. 

To  convince  you  of  this,  we  need  only  mention  his 
being  permitted  peaceably  to  reside  five  years  in  the 
glebe,  after  his  own  voluntary  dismission,  although  he 
constantly  refused  our  repeated  invitations  to  open  the 
church,  and  perform  the  service  in  a  way  we  con- 
ceived to  be  right,  and  as  he  adually  did  perform  it 
in  Warwick  and  elsewhere,  and  to  inform  you  that  the 
parsonage-house  and  glebe  were  given,  by  the  first 
builders  of  the  church,  "to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Arthur 
Browne,  to  him,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  in  fee  simple," 
and  that  he,  on  his  departure  for  Portsmouth,  gener- 
ously gave  them  back  to  three  gentlemen,  "in  trust, 
expressly, to  and  for  an  officiatingclergyman,whenany 
such  was  here,  or  otherwise  to  and  for  the  use  of  the 
Church."  With  respedl  to  the  vote  for  Mr.  Graves's 
quittingtheglebe,  which  he  believed  to  be  illegally  and 
unfairly  obtained,  it  is  necessary  only  to  say  that,  al- 
though many  owners  of  pews  were  not  present  at  its 
passing,  yet  few  or  none  of  them  were  ignorant  of  it 
previous  to  his  removal,  and,  if  they  had  not  thought 
*  These  letters  are  neither  on  file  nor  record. 


chapter  Twenty-second  191 

it  just,  they  would  undoubtedly  have  had  it  recon- 
sidered, and  have  voted  accordingly.  This  was  not 
done  or  even  mentioned,  and  the  vote,  being  regularly 
passed,  must  be  legal.  For  the  particulars  relative  to 
our  settling  Mr.  Oliver,  who  now  performs  divine 
service  to  universal  satisfadion,  and  for  our  final  de- 
termination in  regard  to  Mr.  Graves,  we  beg  leave  to 
refer  you  to  our  answer  to  his  last  letter.  But  though 
we  cannot  again  receive  him  as  our  pastor,  we  still 
sincerely  wish  him  well,  and  should  rejoice  at  his  be- 
ing appointed  to  a  much  better  living  than  this  has 
ever  been.  But  while  we  wish  for  his  welfare,  we  must 
not  be  unmindful  of  our  own,  and  the  interests  of  our 
religion.  Mr.  Oliver,  who  means  to  obtain  Orders  on 
the  first  opportunity  that  offers,  has  officiated  for  us 
two  years  for  a  salary,*  which,  though  small,  we  have 
found  it  very  hard  to  raise. 

Our  anxiety,  however,  to  keep  up  the  worship  of 
God,  in  a  form  which  appears  to  us  pure,  and  the  most 
agreeable  to  the  Scriptures,  has  induced  us  to  engage 
him  for  another  year.  But,  several  members,  who  be- 
fore contributed  largely  to  his  support,  having  lately  re- 
moved out  of  the  State,  it  will  be  extremely  difficult 
for  those  who  remain  to  maintain  a  minister  without 
some  assistance.  If,  therefore,  the  Venerable  Society 
could  make  provision  elsewhere  for  Mr.  Graves,  and, 
if  consistent  with  the  principles  of  their  most  excellent 
institution,  they  would  be  pleased  benevolently  to  con- 
tinue their  former  salary  to  us,  we  are  persuaded  it 
would  not  only  be  an  additional  obligation  conferred 
upon  the  members  of  this  Church,  who  for  past  fa- 
vours feel  the  most  lively  gratitude,  but  that  it  would 
also  tend  greatly  to  the  advancement  of  our  most  holy 
religion.  We  are.  Reverend  Sir,  with  the  greatest  re- 
sped,  your  most  humble  and  most  obedient  Servants. 

*One  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  lawful  money,  together  with 
the  benefit  and  improvement  of  the  parsonage-house  and  glebe. 


192        The  Narragansett  Church 

P.  S.  Application  has  been  made  to  Mr.  Graves  for 
the  books  now  in  his  possession  belonging  to  the 
Church,  but  he  declined  to  deliver  them.  As  they  are 
much  wanted,  and  as  we  conceive  they  are  not  the 
property  of  even  the  officiating  clergyman,  much  less 
of  one  who  does  no  duty  in  the  church,  we  beg  leave 
to  suggest  the  propriety  of  their  being  put  into  the 
hands  of  the  wardens,  for  the  benefit  of  the  congre- 
gation. 

It  does  not  appear  that  any  answer  to  this  letter 
was  ever  received. 

July  27, 1 78 5.  A  letter  was  given  to  Mr.  Tho- 
mas F.  Oliver,  then  officiating  as  lay  reader,  re- 
commending him  to  Bishop  Seabury,  who  had 
just  then  returned  from  his  consecration  in  Eu- 
rope, as  a  "suitable  and  worthy  subject  for  or- 
dination." Mr.  Oliver  was  accordingly  ordained, 
and  continued  with  the  church  until  Septem- 
ber, 1786. 

July  29, 1 786.  On  the  Rev.  Mr.  Oliver's  mak- 
ing known  to  the  Church  that  he  found  it  im- 
possible to  subsist  or  support  his  family  on  the 
salary  allowed  him  by  this  congregation;  that 
having  received  an  invitation  to  settle  at  Mar- 
blehead,  upon  terms  much  more  advantageous, 
and  being  urged  by  his  family  connections  at 
Salem,  to  remove  thither,  he  was  constrained 
from  necessity,  rather  than  from  any  desire  or 
inclination  he  has  to  leave  this  place,  to  accept 
of  the  offers  from  Marblehead;  and  that  there- 
fore he  should  shortly  remove  his  family  to  that 
town, —  the  Church,  though  with  sincere  regret 
at  being  obliged  to  give  up  the  pastoral  care  of 


Chapter  Twenty-second  193 

so  worthy  a  man,  consented  to  his  departure. 
The  following  letter  was  addressed  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Ohver: 

Providence^  Sept.  5,  1786 
Reverend  Sir: 

On  your  necessarily  quitting  the  pastoral  charge  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  in  this  town,  we,  as  a  com- 
mittee, appointed  by  the  congregation  for  the  pur- 
pose, take  this  method  of  communicating  to  you  their 
entire  approbation  of  your  condudl,  which,  during 
your  residence  among  us,  hath  been  invariably  con- 
sistent with  the  pure  principles  of  our  most  holy  re- 
ligion, and  untin6lured  with  hypocrisy  and  disguise, 
displayed  a  feeling  and  benevolent  heart.  And,  while 
as  the  consequence  of  our  inability  we  lament  the  loss 
of  your  ministrations,  permit  us  to  beg  your  accept- 
ance of  our  grateful  thanks  for  all  your  humane  and 
friendly  services,  accompanied  by  our  sincere  wish  that 
you  may  be  happy  with  the  people  over  whom  you  are 
going  now  to  preside,  and  by  our  hearty  prayers  for 
your  health,  worldly  peace,  and  future  eternal  felicity. 
With  great  esteem  and  regard,  we  are.  Reverend 
Sir,  your  assured  friends  and  most  humble  servants, 

Metcalf  Bowler''^' 
Eben.  Thompson ^''^ 
John  I.  Clark^" 
George  Olney" 

Upon  the  recommendation  of  Mr.  Oliver,  the 
Rev.  Moses  Badger^^°  was  invited  to  supply  his 
place,  which  invitation  he  accepted,  at  an  an- 
nual salary  of  ninety  pounds  lawful  money  in 
specie,  and  the  use  of  the  parsonage-house  and 
glebe.  Mr. Badger  continued  pastor  of  thechurch 
until  1792,  when  he  died. 


194        The  Narragansett  Church 

The  following  declaration  and  votes  are  found 
recorded  in  1787: 

"  Voted^  unanimously,  That  we  conceive  it  to  be  the 
indispensable  duty  of  all  churches,  carefully  to  watch 
and  superintend  the  condudt  of  its  members,  and  in 
case  of  violations  of  the  precepts  of  morality  and  re- 
vealed religion,  privately,  in  the  first  instance,  to  ad- 
monish, and  if  the  offender  prove  refradory,  and  irre- 
claimable, then  to  proceed  to  public  censure.  This 
opinion  is  founded  on  reason,  on  revelation,  and  on 
the  immemorial  usage  and  pradice  of  all  Christian 
Churches,  since  the  first  establishment  of  Christianity. 
In  conformity  to  this  useful  and  necessary  part  of  our 
discipline,  we  are  obliged  to  proceed  to  the  public  cen- 
sure and  excommunication  of  David  Brown,  of  John- 
ston, in  the  county  of  Providence,  yeoman,  a  mem- 
ber of  this  church,  whose  condudt  in  attempting  to 
discharge  an  honest  debt,  due  to  John  Clifford  in 
specie,  with  one-sixth  part  of  its  value ^  is  the  imme- 
diate subje6t  of  our  animadversion,  and  has  led  to  this 
public  vindication  of  our  church  discipline. 

"The  fulfilling  of  agreements  voluntarily  entered 
into,  with  honesty  and  good  faith,  is  enjoined  by  the 
clearest  principles  of  reason,  and  the  express  com- 
mands of  our  most  holy  religion,  and  the  obligations 
arising  from  these  laws,  are  superior  to,  and  not  re- 
leasable  by,  any  municipal  statute  or  institution  what- 
ever. The  condu6t  of  the  said  David  in  the  above 
transadlion,  appearing  to  us  highly  culpable,  private 
admonition  hath  been  tried,  but  unfortunately  with- 
out success.  For  the  vindication,  therefore,  of  the 
Church,  and  to  deter  others  from  committing  the  like 
offences,  and  with  the  hope  of  still  reclaiming  our  of- 
fending brother,  we  do  declare  that  his  aforesaid  con- 
dudt  is  a  scandalous  breach  of  the  laws  of  our  most 
holy  religion,  and  dired;ly  opposite  to  the  most  obvi- 


chapter  Twenty-second  195 

ous  principles  of  morality.  We  do,  therefore,  hereby 
manifest  our  disapprobation,  by  thus  publicly  cen- 
suring our  said  brother." 

"  Votedy  That  the  clerk  of  the  vestry  do  enter  the 
above  vote  and  declaration  of  this  meeting  in  the 
public  register-book  of  this  Church,  and  that  the 
same  be  published." 

''Voted,  That  Messrs.  John  I.  Clark  and  Metcalf 
Bowler,  wardens,  and  John  Smith,  be  a  committee  to 
wait  on  Mr.  David  Brown,  to-morrow,  and  use  their 
influence  to  induce  him  to  revoke  the  tender  of  pa- 
per money  to  Mr.  Clifford, — show  him  a  copy  of  the 
preceding  vote,  and  inform  him  that  it  is  the  deter- 
mination of  the  church  to  publish  it  in  the  next  Sat- 
urday's paper,  unless  he  will  recall  the  said  tender, 
and  acknowledge  it  in  as  public  a  manner  as  he  has 
declared  the  tender.  That  in  case  he  does  not  com- 
ply, they  are  to  give  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  declara- 
tion and  excommunication  to  Mr.  Carter  without  fur- 
ther advice  or  diredion  of  the  vestry." 

[For  the  following  sketch  of  John  Innes  Clark 
the  Editor  is  indebted  to  Mr.  Clark's  great- 
grandson,  Colonel  Delancey  Kane : 

"There  were  three  *brither  Scots'  who  came  to 
Cape  Fear,  North  Carolina,  about  1735  ^"^  perhaps  a 
little  earlier,  and  who  were  warm  and  intimate  friends, 
— Thomas  Clark,  Colonel  John  Innes,  and  James 
Murray.*  They  were  gentlemen  of  substance  and  pro- 
minence. 

"Thomas  Clark  married  Barbara  Murray,  a  sister 
of  James  Murray.  He  accumulated  a  good  deal  of 
property  and  was  High  Sheriff  of  his  county  in  1741, 
at  a  time  when  that  office  was  chosen  by  the  Gover- 
nor from  among  the  Justices,  who  were  the  first 
gentlemen  of  the  counties.  He  left  two  sons:  one,  the 
*See  Martin's  ColleSlion  of  Private  Laws,  pp.  102-13. 


196        The  Narragansett  Church 

subje6l  of  this  sketch,  John  Innes  Clark,  named  after 
his  friend.  Colonel  Innes,  and  Thomas  Clark,  who 
afterward  became  Brigadier-General  Thomas  Clark  in 
the  Revolutionary  Army;  and  one  daughter,  Anne, 
who  married  William  Hooper  (a  North  Carolina 
Signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence). 

"John  Innes  Clark  as  a  boy  entered  the  British 
Navy,  but  afterwards  left  the  service  and  settled  in 
Providence,  Rhode  Island,  where  he  married  Eliza 
Bowen.  He  became  one  of  the  most  important  and 
influential  merchants  of  his  time  and  accumulated  a 
large  fortune  in  the  East  India  trade.  He  was  the 
second  President  (1808)  of  the  first  bank  in  Rhode 
Island, — The  Providence  National  Bank,  now  the 
fourth  oldest  bank  in  the  United  States.'"'  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Vestry  and  was  at  the  time  of  his  death 
Senior  Warden  of  St.  John's  Church,  Providence.  Be- 
sides giving  freely  of  his  time  and  energy  for  the  wel- 
fare of  the  Church,  Mr.  Clark  appears  to  have  given 
liberally  of  his  substance.  In  1791  he  gave  thirty-six 
pounds  (X3^)  towards  discharging  a  debt  due  on  the 
organ ;  and  in  1 805  subscribed  one  thousand  dollars  for 
'a  permanent  fund  for  the  regular  support  of  a  clergy- 
man to  officiate.'  This,  according  to  the  Church  Record, 
was  the  largest  gift  given  for  the  purpose  at  that  time. 

"We  are  partly  indebted  to  him  for  the  two  cele- 
brated paintings  of  General  Washington  by  Gilbert 
Stuart,  the  property  of  the  State,  one  of  which  hangs 
in  the  Senate  Chamber  in  Providence  and  the  other 
in  the  Senate  Cham.ber  in  Newport;  for  the  Assembly 
of  Rhode  Island  in  1808  appointed  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  Messrs.  Champlin,  Channing,  and  Ives,  to 
which  the  Senate  added  John  Innes  Clark,  Esq.,  to 
seledl  an  artist  to  paint  these  pidtures.f 

*See  Colonel  William  Goddard's  Speech  at  Centennial  of  this 

bank. 

tSee  State  Records,  Providence. 


^^^ 

■ 

^^s 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Bg                 _^. '-JHE'; 

^^^^^^^^V  ^*^  Pvl 

^^^^hF  '^^=^j^i 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Fvi              'i^l 

1 

-3 

^^^■f        1 

'^^■^^H^m^^lP^^^^rr"' 

.. 

^■1 

chapter  Twenty-second  197 

"He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  highest  distindion 
and  standing,  honoured  aHke  by  his  associates  and  his 
State.  He  left  two  daughters,  one  of  whom  (Elizabeth) 
married  Oliver  Kane,  of  Newport,  and  the  other 
(Harriet)  married  the  celebrated  Dr.  Robert  Hare, 
of  Philadelphia."] 

[Respefting  Mr.  Bowler,  Mr.  John  Howland, 
then  President  of  the  Rhode  Island  Historical 
Society,  communicated  to  the  author  the  follow- 
ing: 

"The  Hon.  Metcalf  Bowler  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, but  when  a  young  man,  arrived  in  this  country 
and  settled  in  Newport,  which  was  then  a  flourishing 
town.  He  commenced  his  operations  there  as  a  mer- 
chant, and  was  largely  concerned  in  navigation,  in 
which  he  was  eminently  successful.  During  the  war 
with  France  and  Spain  he  was  principal  owner  of  a 
privateer,  commanded  by  Captain  William  Dennis, 
who  brought  in  a  number  of  rich  prizes,  which  greatly 
added  to  the  property  of  Mr.  Bowler.  His  talents  and 
enterprise  brought  him  into  public  life  as  an  eminent 
politician;  he  represented  the  town  of  Newport,  and 
afterwards  the  town  of  Portsmouth,  in  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Colony,  of  which  he  was  for  many 
years  the  Speaker.  He  had  his  town  and  country  resi- 
dence and  eredled  the  elegant  house  in  Newport  at  the 
corner  of  what  were  then  called  the  New  Lane  and 
Clark  Street,  now  the  Vernon  estate.  To  the  usual  oc- 
cupation of  his  farm  in  Portsmouth,  he  added  the 
mostsplendidand  best  cultivated  garden  on  the  island; 
his  taste  for  agriculture  and  gardening,  in  which  he 
cultivated  the  best  fruits  and  flowers, exceeding  that 
of  any  gentleman  of  his  day.  While  he  was  in  posses- 
sion of  his  large  property  in  Newport,  there  were  but 
two  coaches  in  the  colony,  one  of  which  was  that  of 
Abraham  Redwood,  who  was  supposed  to  be  the  rich- 


198        The  Narragansett  Church 

est  man  in  Newport,  and  the  other  was  that  of  Mr. 
Bowler,  in  which  he  rode  with  an  elegant  span  of 
horses.  During  the  French  war  a  convention  of  dele- 
gates from  the  northern  colonies  was  held  in  Albany, 
to  agree  on  the  number  of  troops  each  colony  should 
furnish  on  the  Canada  frontier.  In  the  first  session, 
Governor  Hopkins  appeared  for  Rhode  Island,  and 
in  the  second,  Mr.  Bowler  and  Henry  Ward,  the 
brother  of  Governor  Ward.  Mr.  Bowler  travelled  in 
his  coach,  and  Mr.  Ward  on  horseback;  and  many 
years  after  I  heard  Mr.  Ward  relate  the  circumstance, 
that  the  expense  of  Mr.  Bowler's  journey  was  vastly 
more  than  his,  though  both  were  paid  by  the  govern- 
ment. 

"The  decline  of  business  in  Newport,  together  with 
his  style  of  living  and  the  occurrence  of  the  War  of  the 
Revolution  greatly  impaired  the  property  of  Mr.  Bow- 
ler, though  he  continued  to  be  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Assembly  and  Judge  of  the  SuperiorCourt — these 
offices  not  then  being  deemed  incompatible  in  the  same 
person.  From  the  causes  mentioned  above,  he  had 
but  little  property  left.  He  then  removed  to  Provi- 
dence, opened  a  shop  of  dry  goods,  without  any  ap- 
parent depression  of  mind,  and  managed  his  little 
business  pleasantly,  practising  prudent  economy.  He 
afterward  opened  a  respedlable  boarding  house,  in 
which  he  performed  the  duties  of  a  landlord  as  well 
as  if  he  had  never  known  a  higher  elevation.  At  last, 
far  advanced  in  life,  his  probation  was  ended.  At  this 
time  there  was  no  resident  minister  in  St.  John's 
Church,  of  which  Mr.  Bowler  had  been  one  of  the 
wardens.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Smith,^'*^  of  Narragansett, 
preached  his  funeral  sermon.  The  clergyman  being  a 
stranger,  who  knew  nothing  of  the  life  and  charafter 
of  the  deceased,  avoided  any  of  the  usual  observations 
on  the  subje6l;  but  to  the  few  of  us  present,  who 
knew  the  Judge  in  the  days  of  his  riches  and  splen- 


Chapter  Twenty-second  199 

dour,  it  was  a  solemn  scene,  bringing  deep  impres- 
sions on  the  progress  as  well  as  on  the  end  of  human 
life  and  the  great  purposes  of  our  being,  when  the  rich 
and  the  poor  lie  down  together.  Mr.  Bowler,  in  1750, 
married  Miss  Fairchild,^^*^  a  respectable  lady  in  New- 
port, by  whom  he  left  a  number  of  descendants.  His 
age  at  the  time  of  his  death  I  have  not  been  able  to 
ascertain. ^^'^ 

"Before  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  during  the 
residence  of  Judge  Bowler  in  Newport,  the  principal 
families  there  were  highly  aristocratic  in  their  man- 
ners. They  possessed  little  sympathy  for  their  fellow- 
citizens.  The  families  of  Brenton,  Malbone,  Wanton, 
Simon  Pease  and  Charles  Handy,  the  Bannisters,  the 
Freebodys  and  others  were  of  this  caste,  but  the  polite- 
ness and  free  intercourse  of  Judge  Bowlersustained  his 
popularity  and  insured  him  the  good-will  of  all.  While 
he  resided  in  Providence  he  was  treated  with  the  high- 
est resped:,  notwithstanding  the  loss  of  his  large  pro- 
perty."] 

September  6,  1789.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Parker,  ^^^ 
of  Boston,  by  authority,  invites  this  church  to 
send  delegates  to  the  General  Convention  of  the 
Bishops  and  Clergy,  to  be  held  on  the  29th  of 
September,  in  Philadelphia,  for  the  purpose  of 
ecclesiastical  organization.  This  church  autho- 
rizes Bishop  Seabury  to  represent  them  at  that 
convention. 

November  7,  1790," /^^oW,  unanimously, That  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Badger,  John  I.  Clark,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Jere- 
miah F.  Jenkins,  wardens,  and  Mr.  John  Mumford, 
be  a  committee  to  proceed  to  Newport,  there  to  con- 
sult and  advise  with  such  other  persons  as  may  be 
chosen  by  the  different  Churches  in  this  State,  to  re- 
present them  in  a  State  Convention,  to  be  held  on 


200        The  Narragansett  Church 

Wednesday  the  17th  instant,  and  to  make  such  altera- 
tions and  amendments  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer 
as  may  be  judged  expedient  by  said  convention,  and 
to  do  any  other  matters  which  may  be  thought  for 
the  interest  and  reputation  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island." 

1 790.  The  aft  of  incorporation  which  passed  the 
Legislature  in  1772,  but  which,  owing  to  some 
neglect  or  misunderstanding,  was  not  signed  by 
the  Governor,  was  this  year,  by  a  special  aft, 
confirmed  and  all  the  previous  afts  of  the  cor- 
poration, under  it,  legalized. 

In  1 79 1 ,  the  church  was  sued  for  the  payment 
of  their  organ,  by  Gilbert  Deblois.  Owing  to 
the  war  with  England,  and  the  unsettled  state 
of  affairs  afterwards,  the  church  had  been  una- 
ble to  pay  anything.  A  settlement  was  effefted 
by  paying  Mr.  Deblois  two  hundred  pounds, 
and  the  fee  of  the  lawyer,  "which  was  upwards 
of  five  hundred  dollars  less  than  was  legally  due 
him." 

1 792.  Mr.  James  Wilson,^^'*  since  pastor  of  the 
Beneficent  Congregational  Church  in  this  city, 
officiated,  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Badger,  for  a 
short  time,  as  a  reader.  The  Rev.  Abraham  L. 
Clarke,  of  Huntington,  Connefticut,  became 
reftor  of  the  church,  at  a  salary  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds  per  annum.  Bishop  Seabury  says 
of  him,  in  a  letter  to  the  wardens :  "  He  is  not 
only  a  gentleman  of  good  charafter  and  under- 
standing, but  also  of  easy  and  polite  manners,  and 
of  diligence  in  his  profession." 

The  State  Convention  met,  for  the  first  time 


Chapter  Twenty-second  201 

in  this  church,  Bishop  Seabury  presiding,  July 
31,  1793.  On  April  21,  1794,  it  was 

'■^Voted^  That  a  pair  of  decent  grave-stones  be 
eredled  to  the  memory  of  the  late  Dr.  John  Chace,'^^ 
at  the  expense  of  the  Church,  in  testimony  of  their 
respe(5l  to  the  remains  of  their  departed  brother,  who 
was  for  years  a  faithful  friend  and  servant  of  the 
Church." 

Mr.  Chace  served  the  Church  as  organist  for  nine 
years  without  compensation. 

In  1 794,  the  name  of  the  Church  was  changed, 
on  application  to  the  Legislature,  to  St.  John's 
Church  and  the  Church  agreed  to  "go  fully  into 
the  use  of  the  alterations  in  the  revised  Book  of 
Common  Prayer."  The  glebe  was  sold  that  year. 
In  1795,  the  Legislature  granted  a  lottery  to  en- 
able the  society  to  build  a  parsonage.  In  1797, 
the  "  United  Society  of  St.  John's  Church"  was 
incorporated,  "for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  fund, 
the  interest  to  be  appropriated  annually  for  the 
support  of  the  Gospel  in  said  church,  until  it 
shall  amount  to  two  hundred  pounds,  and  then 
the  surplusage  is  to  be  either  added  to  the  fund, 
or  appropriated  to  such  charitable  uses  as  the 
society  shall  think  proper."  This  society  con- 
tinued until  1 8 1 2,  when  its  fund  was  transferred 
to  the  "minister,  wardens,  vestry  and  proprie- 
tors of  St.  John's  Church."  In  1798,  it  was 

"  Voted,  unanimously.  That  the  constitution  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  for  this  State,  as  adopted 
by  the  Convention,  held  in  Bristol,  July  8,  1795,  be, 
and  the  same  is  hereby  ratified  and  adopted  by  us, 
except  the  third  article  of  said  constitution." 


202        The  Narragansett  Church 

At  the  annual  meetings  of  this  Church,  two  of- 
ficers, at  present  unknown  to  the  Church,  were 
always  appointed,  called  Sidesmen  [Synodsmen]. 
Their  duty  was,  "to  keep  order  in  the  church 
in  time  of  Divine  Service." 

Mr.  Clarke  resigned  the  charge  of  the  Church 
March  30,  1800.  In  1801,  Stephen  Hull  offici- 
ated as  a  lay  reader.  In  06lober,  1801,  the  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Bowen  (since  Bishop  of  the  Diocese 
of  South  Carolina)  became  re6tor  of  the  church. 
In  March,  1 802,  he  went  on  a  visit  to  the  South, 
and  was  invited  to  the  rectorship  of  St.  Michael's 
Church,  Charleston.  He  requested  his  dismissal 
from  St.  John's  Church.  The  letter  of  reply  says  : 

"Sensible  of  the  eligibility  of  so  respectable  a  situa- 
tion, we  unanimously  complied  with  the  wishes  of  St. 
Michael's  Church,  but  with  deep  regret  we  have  thus 
reluftantly  assented  to  relinquish  your  valuable  ser- 
vices. Having  advocated,  in  the  most  impressive  man- 
ner, the  pure  dodrines  of  our  holy  religion,  your  emi- 
nent endeavours,  sincerely  in  its  cause,  have  given  real 
satisfadlion,  and  will  have  a  lasting  and  grateful  impres- 
sion on  our  minds." 

On  November  i,  1802,  Mr.  Crocker  first  per- 
formed Divine  Service  in  this  church.  In  April, 
1 8 03,  he  was  invited  to  become  pastor,  on  obtain- 
ing Deacon's  Orders,  which  he  accepted  for  one 
year.  Owingto  the  ill  health  of  Mr.  Crocker  dur- 
ing this  year,  leave  of  absence  was  granted  him  for 
several  weeks,  and  his  illness  still  continuing,  he 
was  obliged  in  January,  1804,  "to  beg  to  be  re- 
leased from  his  engagements."  The  request  was 
granted;  "but  not  without  repugnance  to  our 


Chapter  Twenty-second  203 

feelings,  that  the  measure,  though  expedient,  de- 
prives us  of  a  pastor  whose  valuable  services  will 
not  be  easily  effaced  from  our  memories."  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Parker  served  as  a  lay  reader  for  a  short 
time. 

In  December,  1805,  the  Rev.  John  Lynn 
Blackburn,  an  English  gentleman,  came  from  the 
Church  in  Quincy,  Massachusetts,  and,  meet- 
ing with  the  unanimous  approbation  of  the  con- 
gregation, was  invited  to  perform  Divine  Service 
until  Easter.  On  April  7,  1806,  Mr.  Blackburn 
was  chosen  "minister  and  re6tor  of  St.  John's 
Church,"  his  reftorship  to  commence  "on  his 
obtainment  of  priest's  orders,"  and  his  salary  to  be 
six  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  until  the  expiration 
of  twenty  months,  at  which  time  it  was  contem- 
plated that  the  subscription  for  a  permanent  fund 
for  the  support  of  the  minister  would  be  realized. 

In  1 806,  the  wardens  were  requested  to  discon- 
tinue the  practice  of  colle6ting  contributions  in 
church  during  Divine  Service,  except  on  pub- 
lic days,  and  on  November  9,  1806,  the  dele- 
gates to  the  State  Convention  "were  requested 
to  use  their  influence  to  come  under  the  Dio- 
cese of  New  York." 

Soon  after  Mr.  Blackburn  took  charge  of  the 
Church  (1806),  the  congregation,  for  various  rea- 
sons, became  dissatisfied  with  him.  One  cause  for 
this  dissatisfaction,  the  following  correspondence 
will  explain.  The  agreement  made  with  Mr. 
Blackburn  was  as  follows,  to  wit : 

"The  said  John  L.  Blackburn  is  to  perform  Divine 
Service,  as  pastor  of  St.  John's  Church,  at  the  rate  of 


204        The  Narragansett  Church 

six  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  annum  (to  which  he 
was  unanimously  eledled  last  Easter),  until  the  expi- 
ration of  twenty  months,  as  it  is  contemplated  that  the 
fund  of  said  Church  for  the  support  of  a  clergyman 
will  be  then  realized;  at  the  termination  of  which  time, 
should  it  prove  mutually  agreeable,  it  is  expeded  that 
the  Rev.  J.  L.  Blackburn  will  continue  in  said  church 
as  a  permanent  pastor,  his  salary  to  be  augmented  as  it 
may  be  then  agreed." 

This  agreement  was  signed  on  the  7th  of  April, 

1806.  In  June,  Mr.  Blackburn  went  to  Connec- 
ticut to  receive  Priest's  Orders,  and  took  with 
him  the  following  testimonial,  to  wit: 

"This  is  to  certify^  that  we,  the  Wardens  and  Ves- 
try of  St.  John's  Church,  Providence,  &c.,  do  hereby 
nominate  and  appoint  the  Rev.  John  Lynn  Black- 
burn to  perform  the  office  of  a  clergyman  and  pastor 
of  the  church  aforesaid,  and  do  promise  to  continue 
him  to  adl  as  such  until  the  7th  day  of  December, 

1 807,  and  as  much  longer  as  may  be  7nutually  agreed ow, 
unless  by  fault  committed  by  him,  he  shall  be  law- 
fully removed  from  the  same,  &c." 

On  the  2d  of  June,  1806,  Mr.  Blackburn  wrote 
a  letter  to  one  of  the  wardens,  from  which  the 
following  is  extracted: 

Dear  Sir: 

No  doubt  you  will  be  a  Httle  surprised  on  the  receipt 
of  this,  covering  the  enclosed.  The  testimonial  for 
ele6tion,  which  was  presented  to  the  Bishop,  was  re- 
je6led  by  him  as  uncanonical,  upon  which,  therefore, 
I  could  not  be  admitted  to  Orders.  The  enclosed  tes- 
timonial he  framed  himself,  and  requested  a  copy 
might  be  forwarded  for  the  signatures  of  the  vestry  of 
St.  John's  Church,  Providence.  Your  attention  \inat- 


chapter  Twenty-second  205 

tention}']  to  the  one  I  drew  out,  and  the  insertion  of, 
"until  the  7th  of  December,  1 807,  and  as  much  longer 
as  may  be  mutually  agreed  on,"  were  what  he  entirely 
objeded  to.  He  says,  that  a  Bishop,  upon  the  ordina- 
tion of  a  candidate  for  the  priesthood,  knows  nothing 
of  a  limited  space  of  time,  which  would  but  subje6l  the 
clergyman  to  the  capricious  humour  of  his  congrega- 
tion which  at  all  times  ought  to  be  discountenanced, 
as  being  contrary  to  the  rules  of  Episcopacy.  May  I 
request  you  to  procure  the  necessary  signatures  to  the 
enclosed,  and  forward  it  immediately,  dire6led  to  the 
care  of  the  Bishop,  &c.,  &c. 

In  a  postscript,  Mr.  Blackburn  says: 

"  I  mentioned  the  agreement  I  had  entered  into  with 
the  congregation,  when  the  Bishop  replied,  that  that 
was  a  personal  matter  between  ourselves,  but  with 
which  the  testimonial  of  eledlion  had  nothing  to  do. 
However,  that  the  parsonage-house  and  glebe  imme- 
diately became  the  rector's,  upon  his  indu6tion  into  a 
church.  Upon  this  subjed:  he  has  promised  to  give 
me  his  sentiments  in  writing." 

The  following  is  the  reply  of  the  Wardens  and 
Vestry: 

Providence^  "June  6,  1806 
Rev.  Mr.  Blackburn: 

Dear  Sir, — Your  letter  covering  a  testimonial  for 
the  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  St.  John's  Church  to 
sign,  has  been  received,  and  we  observe  that  you  in- 
timate a  claim  upon  us  for  the  glebe,  in  addition  to  the 
salary  we  agreed  with  you  for.  In  reply  thereto,  we 
remark,  that  the  clergyman's  salary  of  this  congrega- 
tion has  ever  been  raised  by  voluntary  subscription, 
and  that  the  contraft  already  made  precludes  any  other 
for  the  time  prescribed.  We  do  not  find  ourselves  au- 
thorized to  sign  any  writings  compulsive  on  the  society 


2o6        The  Narragansett  Church 

for  more  than  their  agreement  stipulates,  as  the  rest 
of  the  glebe  estate  is  already  appropriated  to  make 
your  salary  to  six  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  We  re- 
gret that  it  is  not  in  our  power,  at  present,  to  acquiesce 
with  your  request.  Desirous  of  avoiding  everything 
unpleasant,  it  is  necessary  that  there  should  be  a  per- 
fe6l  understanding  with  each  other.  We  therefore  can- 
not think  of  committing  ourselves  further,  until  the 
claims  on  the  glebe,  which,  as  you  mention,  is  sup- 
posed by  the  Bishop  to  become  the  re6lor's  right  and 
privilege,  are  relinquished  by  you. 

Signed  by  the  Wardens  and  Vestry 

This  letter  not  having  been  answered  on  the 
1 2th  of  August,  1806,  the  Wardens  again  ad- 
dressed Mr.  Blackburn,  intimating  the  propriety 
of  "an  official  reply."  To  this  Mr.  Blackburn 
replied  as  follow^s: 

Providence^  Augmt  16,  1806 
Gentlemen: 

I  PERCEIVE  with  pleasure,  by  your  letter  of  the  12th 
instant,  that  what  you  are  pleased  to  call  my  "unex- 
pe6ted  application,"  from  New  Haven,  had  not  en- 
tirely slipped  your  memory.  Not  being  in  possession 
of  the  Church  canons  made  in  this  country,  I  con- 
ceived the  testimonial  I  carried  with  me  would  be 
sufficient;  but,  understanding  from  the  Bishop  that 
it  would  not,  I  sent  another  form,  dictated  by  him^ 
which  might  have  been  very  safely  executed  and  re- 
turned, as  the  church  would  not  have  been  thereby 
in  any  way  committed  or  subje6led  to  inconvenience. 
It  only  expressed  that  I  should  be  established  redlor 
of  St.  John's  Church,  but  it  does  not  say  that  I  should 
be  appointed  for  life.  It  does  not,  by  any  means,  set  aside 
or  militate  against  our  agreement;  therefore,  gentle- 
men, it  is  sufficiently  evident  that  neither  his  Right 
Reverence,  the  Bishop,  nor  myself,  has  any  intention 


chapter  Twenty-second  207 

to  overreach  or  take  in  the  society.  The  testimonial 
you  sent  me  not  being  expressed  according  to  the  canons, 
was,  of  course,  reje^ed,  and  the  Bishop  expected  that 
another,  corresponding  with  the  form  sent,  should  be 
forwarded  to  him  immediately  after  my  returning  here. 
I  do  solemnly  assure  you,  gentlemen,  that  the  means 
of  complying  with  that  requisition  not  having  been 
conceded,  has  occasioned  me  much  uneasiness,  as  I 
have,  in  some  degree,  been  obliged  to  forfeit  my  word 
to  the  Bishop,  and  it  has  much  the  appearance  of  an 
imposition  on  him,  which  of  all  things  1  detest.  What 
I  mentioned  respeding  the  church  glebe,  was  i^y  the 
authority  of  the  Bishop;  but  you,  gentlemen,  very  well 
know,  that  although  I  might  be  entitled  to  it  by  the 
canons  and  constitution  of  the  Church,  yet  I  could 
not,  by  our  agreement,  enter  into  possession,  or  de- 
mand the  rent;  therefore,  that  should  not  have  had 
sufficient  weight  to  induce  you  to  withhold  the  testi- 
monial, which  I  in  honour,  3.nd  you  in  duty,  as  officers 
of  the  Church,  were  (^(?^^»i^  to  furnish.  The  question  of 
the  glebe  may  remain  in  statu  quo,  for  although  I  shall 
not  contest  that  matter,  I  will  not  take  any  measure 
that  may  commit  the  rights  of  the  Church,  as  I  might 
thereby  do  injury  to  my  successors.  Considered  as  an 
ecclesiastical  person,  it  is  one  of  the  first  duties  of  a 
clergyman  to  stand  up  for  the  rights  of  the  Church, 
and  of  his  own  order.  On  these  principles  I  was  ex- 
tremely mortified  by  the  proceedings  respeding  the 
pew  in  the  church  which  is  reserved  for  the  re6tor.  I 
still  continue  to  think  it  was  highly  unjust  and  im- 
proper to  take  that  privilege  from  me,  without  my 
consent.  Had  I  been  consulted  on  the  subjedl,  it  would 
have  been  otherwise,  but  I  dislike  anything  which  has 
the  appearance  of  injustice  or  imposition.  You  will 
perceive,  gentlemen,  that  I  unreservedly  lay  all  my 
subje6ls  of  uneasiness  before  you,  for  I  think  it  totally 
improper  that  any  heart-burnings  should  remain  un- 


2o8        The  Narragansett  Church 

expressed  and  unexplained  between  a  clergyman  and 
his  Church.  I  am,  with  due  esteem,  gentlemen,  yours 
obediently, 

J.  L.  Blackburn 

The  following  is  the  reply  to  the  above  letter: 

Providence^  August  19,  1806 
Reverend  Sir: 

We  are  now  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  fa- 
vour of  the  1 6th  instant,  which  came  to  hand  the 
evening  of  its  date.  Had  you,  sir,  been  as  prompt  in 
your  reply  to  ours  addressed  to  you,  in  answer  to 
yours  from  New  Haven,  you  might  have  had  your 
certificate^  and  there  would  have  been  no  necessity  of 
our  introducing  the  subje6l  at  this  time.  But,  you  will 
recoiled:,  on  your  application  from  thence,  that  you 
prematurely  introduced  (though  you  were  then  well 
acquainted  with  the  contra6t  subsisting  between  you 
and  the  society)  the  Bishop's  opinion  of  your  right 
to  the  church  glebe;  we  therefore  wrote  to  you  our 
objections,  and  had  not  a  doubt  of  receiving  an  im- 
mediate answer,  with  an  acknowledgement  to  the 
agreement;  but,  to  our  astonishment,  from  that  time 
to  the  receipt  of  your  last,  not  a  single  line  has  been 
received  from  you  on  the  subje6l,  convinced  as  you 
now  appear  to  be  of  the  propriety  of  our  objections. 
Your  honour  should,  we  think,  have  induced  you,  as 
soon  as  you  understood  the  reason  of  our  non-com- 
pliance with  your  request,  to  acknowledge  it  immedi- 
ately. This  sufficiently  obviated,  the  testimonial  would 
have  been  forwarded  without  hesitation.  Your  relin- 
quishing the  glebe  to  the  society,  by  complying  with 
the  agreement,  could  be  no  relinquishment  of  the 
rights  of  others.  It  was  a  contra6t  for  yourself,  in 
which  it  was  clearly  understood,  that  the  income  of  the 
glebe  was  to  be  appropriated  by  the  society  in  part  to- 
ward the  salary  agreed  on  to  be  paid  you.  The  unim- 


chapter  Twenty-second         209 

portant  claim  of  the  pew,  it  was  supposed,  had  been 
explained  so  as  not  to  need  repetition;  but  should  a 
further  discussion  on  the  subje(5t  be  thought  neces- 
sary, it  will  be  better  understood  by  a  personal  inter- 
view,and,on  any  such  occasion, your  opinions  and  ob- 
servations will  be  respectfully  attended  to.  Feeling 
satisfied  of  our  disposition  to  treat  you,  at  all  times, 
with  respedl,  we  are  not  disposed  to  reiterate  any  ex- 
pressions that  might  have  a  tendency  to  wound  your 
feelings,  or  to  reply  to  you  with  the  temper  with 
which,  we  observe  with  regret,  you  have  been  pleased 
to  answer  us — and  we  flatter  ourselves  no  one  will 
presume,  in  our  condudl  towards  you,  to  accuse  us  of 
anything  which  "has  the  appearance  of  injustice  or 
imposition."  It  has  always  been  our  earnest  desire  to 
cultivate  your  society,  and  had  anything  required  an 
explanation,  it  might  have  been  made  without  reserve, 
in  an  amicable  and  delicate  manner, — but  this  un- 
fortunately has  in  some  measure  been  prevented,  by 
your  withdrawing  yourself  from  us.  Neither  our  time 
nor  inclination  will  admit  ofa  lengthy  correspondence; 
should  you,  therefore,  wish  a  further  discussion  of  the 
subje6l  of  the  glebe  or  the  testimonial^  we  shall  be  ready 
to  attend  any  appointment  you  may  be  pleased  to 
make ;  and  we  are  persuaded,  that  in  our  official  char- 
a^er,  you  will  find  us  equally  disposed  to  render  jus- 
tice to  you  and  our  constituents,  and  that  as  wardens 
and  private  citizens,  we  have  your  honour  and  happi- 
ness very  much  at  heart.  Remaining,  very  respect- 
fully, sir,  your  humble  servants, 

Signed^      John  Innes  Clark      \  u/-    j 
Jeremiah  F.  Jenkins  j 

In  September  17,  1806, 

"The  Wardens  of  St.  John's  Church  acquaint  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Blackburn,  that  the  pew  denominated  the 
ministerial  pew  J  is  entirely  at  his  service  during  his 


210        The  Narragansett  Church 

redorship,  it  having  been  deemed  so,  from  the  time 
of  his  sacerdotal  qualification." 

Under  date  of  March  23,  1807, 

"The  Rev.  J.  L.  Blackburn  begs  leave  to  inform 
his  Wardens,  Vestry,  and  congregation,  that  it  is  his 
intention  to  leave  America  for  Great  Britain;  conse- 
quently he  wishes  that  they  would,  in  the  intermediate 
time  allotted  to  him  by  their  agreement,  provide  them- 
selves with  a  more  suitable  clergyman." 

The  following  appears  to  be  in  reply  to  the  above 
note.  It  is  v^ithout  signature  and,  possibly,  was 
never  sent : 

Rev. J.  L.  Blackburn: 

Sir:  Your  communication  of  the  23rd  inst.,  advising 
the  Wardens,  Vestry,  and  congregation  of  St.  John's 
Church  of  your  intention  to  leave  America  for  Great 
Britain,  at  the  expiration  of  the  existing  contradl  be- 
tween you  and  that  society,  hath  been  duly  received 
and  attended  to;  and,  in  reply,  we  are  authorized  by 
the  congregation  we  have  the  honour  to  represent, 
to  acquaint  you,  that,  for  divers  weighty  reasons^  un- 
necessary to  detail  here,  it  is  their  wish  amicably  to 
cancel  the  contraft,  freely  assenting  to  your  immediate 
release,  that  your  design  of  visiting  Great  Britain 
may  be  facilitated  and  that  the  society  may  not  lose 
a  favourable  opportunity  of  engaging  another  clergy- 
man. In  case,  sir,  you  shall  be  disposed  to  accept  this 
proposition, — a  measure,  since  a  separation  hath  be- 
come inevitable,  we  most  earnestly  recommend  as 
highly  prudent  and  expedient  at  this  time,  — we  shall 
most  cheerfully  give  you  any  reasonable  aid  that  may 
be  requisite  for  your  intended  voyage.  Wishing  you 
a  safe  return  to  your  native  country  and  the  enjoy- 
ment of  health  and  happiness,  we  are,  in  behalf  of  the 
congregation  of  St.  John's  Church,  Sir,  &c. 


chapter  Twenty-second  211 

On  the  26th  of  March,  Mr.  Blackburn  resigned 
the  charge  of  the  church. 

March  30th," /^o/^<3', That  Messrs. Thomas  L.  Hal- 
sey  and  John  Carter  be  a  Committee  to  wait  upon 
the  Rev.  J.  L.  Blackburn  and  present  him  with  the 
letter  from  the  wardens,  expressing  their  ready  ac- 
ceptance of  his  resignation." 

The  letter  of  the  Wardens  concludes  thus: 

"We  take  occasion,  at  this  time,  to  offer  you  our 
best  wishes  for  the  safety  of  your  intended  voyage  to 
Great  Britain,  the  enjoyment  of  health  and  happiness 
in  life,  and  that  you  may  permanently  establish  the 
reputation,  which  it  is  in  your  power  to  acquire,  with 
the  aid  of  the  splendid  literary  talents  you  possess." 

Another  cause  for  dissatisfa6lion  was  Mr.  Black- 
burn's habitual  intemperance. 

Immediately  after  Mr.  Blackburn's  resigna- 
tion, Mr.  Crocker  was  invited  to  become  the 
minister,  "so  long  as  it  may  prove  convenient 
for  him."  In  April,  1808,  it  was  ''Voted,  That 
the  Rev.  Nathan  B.  Crocker  be  re6tor  of  St. 
John's  Church,  on  his  obtainment  of  priest's 
orders." 

On  the  1 9th  of  March,  1 8 1  o,  a  meeting  of  the 
society  was  held,  at  which  it  was  decided  to  ere(5l 
a  new  church  on  thelot  where  the  present  church 
stands,  "A  building  committee  was  thereupon 
appointed,  and  application  was  made  to  the  town 
for  the  use  of  the  town-house  while  the  church 
was  building."  Tuesday,  June  5, 1 8 1  o, "  the  cor- 
ner-stone of  the  new  church  was  laid  with  ap- 
propriate ceremonies,  by  the  reverend  Pastor  and 
the  Wardens  and  Vestry,  assisted  by  the  gentle- 


212        The  Narragansett  Church 

men  committee,  appointed  to  superintend  the 
building  of  the  church.  The  congregation  having 
been  notified,  convened  at  the  town-house  and 
proceeded  to  the  spot,  w^here  the  exercises  com- 
menced by  singing,  when  the  corner-stone  was 
laid  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  building,  af- 
ter which  an  excellent  prayer  and  pertinent  ad- 
dress were  delivered  by  the  re6tor. 

"The  following  inscription  engraven  on  a 
copper-plate  and  presented  by  Mr.  Nehemiah 
Dodge,  was  set  within  the  stone,  namely: 

*  King's  Church  was  built  on  this  spot,  a.d.  1722. 
It  received  the  name  of  St.  John's  Church,  by  aft  of 
incorporation,  a.d.  1794.  By  unanimous  consent  of 
the  congregation  it  was  demolished  April,  18 10.  The 
corner-stone  of  this  edifice  was  laid  with  appropriate 
ceremony  by  Rev.  Nathan  B.  Crocker,  pastor  of  said 
congregation;  Thomas  Lloyd  Halsey  and  Jeremiah 
Fones  Jenkins,  wardens;  assisted  by  George  Olney, 
John  Mumford,  Moses  Lippitt,  Thomas  Lloyd  Hal- 
sey, Ephraim  Bowen,  junior,  Alexander  Jones,  John 
Corliss,  John  Carlile,  Nathaniel  Searle,  junior,  Nehe- 
miah Dodge,  Thomas  Thompson,  Thomas  Sessions, 
Nicholas  Power,  Wm.  Blodgett,  John  M.  Noyes,  and 
Christopher  R.  Greene,  committee  for  building  this 
church,  together  with  most  of  the  Episcopal  Society, 
on  the  5th  day  of  June,  a.d.  18 10,  in  the  34th  year 
of  the  independence  of  the  United  States  of  America. 
James  Madison,  President.  Master-builders^  Smith 
and  Asa  Bosworth,  stone-layers;  John  H.  Greene,^" 
carpenter.  Nehemiah  Dodge, /m/.'" 

Tuesday,  June  11,  181 1,  being  the  day  ap- 
pointed for  the  consecration,  a  procession  was 
formed  at  the  town-house,  composed  of  the  male 


chapter  Twenty-second  213 

members  of  the  congregation,  and  joined  by  the 
Rev.  Salmon  Wheaton,re(5tor  of  Trinity  Church, 
Newport,  and  the  reftor  of  our  church,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  church,  at  the  entrance  of  which 
the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  (Griswold)  being  met  by 
the  Wardens  and  Vestry,  the  church  was  conse- 
crated according  to  the  form  set  forth  by  our 
General  Convention.  The  deed  of  consecration 
was  read  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Crocker,  and  morning 
prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wheaton.^^^  After  an  ex- 
cellent discourse  by  the  Bishop,  the  Holy  Eucha- 
rist was  administered  by  him,  assisted  by  the 
above-named  reverend  gentlemen  and  the  Rev. 
John  Ward,^^'  then  residing  at  St.  Michael's 
Church,  Bristol. 

In  181 1,  Mr. John  Fitton  bequeathed  to  the 
church  "  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  the  inter- 
est tobeappropriated  to  thepoorofsaid  church ; " 
to  be  paid  after  the  decease  of  his  wife. 

In  February,  1 8 1 2,  the  General  Assembly  in- 
corporated St.  John's  Church  under  the  name  of 
the  "  Minister,  Wardens,  Vestry,  and  Proprie- 
tors of  St.  John's  Church ; "  and  by  this  charter 
the  funds  of  the  "United  Society  of  St.  John's 
Church  "  and  of  the  society  entitled  the  "  Min- 
ister, Church-wardens,  Vestry,  and  Congrega- 
tion of  St.  John's  Church"  were  transferred  and 
vested  in  the  present  corporation. 

On  April  15,  18 16,  the  constitution  of  the 
Church  in  this  State  was  approved,  with  several 
amendments.  In  1827,  the  Sunday-school  room 
was  built.  In  1 8 32,  an  amendment  to  the  charter 
was  obtained  from  the  Legislature,  authorizing 


214        The  Narragansett  Church 

the  corporation  to  tax  the  pews  for  the  support 
of  public  worship,  and  for  the  payment  of  taxes. 

RECTORS 

10/ Kings  Church'] 

George  Pigot  1723-1727 

Joseph  O'Harra  1728-1729 

Arthur  Browne  1730-1736 

John  Checkley  1739-1754 

John  Graves  '755-1776 
Interrcgtium ;  War  of  the  Renjolution 

Thomas  Fitch  Oliver  1785-1786 

Moses  Badger  1 786- 1791 

Abraham  L.  Clarke  1 792-1 794 

lOfSt.  Johns  Church] 

Abraham  L.  Clarke  1795-1800 

Nathaniel  Bowen  1801-1802 

John  Lynn  Blackburn  1805-1807 

Nathan  Bourne  Crocker  1807-1865 

Richard  Bache  Duane  1 865-1 869 

C.  A.  L.  Richards  [ReSior  Emeritus]  1 869-1 901 

Lester  Bradner  1901- 


Floor  Plan  of  King's  Church,  nmjo  St.  John's  Church,  in  Providence  {built  1722;  demolished  1810),  drazun  previous  to  ^n^  by  John  Chace,  Orgamst 
From  the  original  Diagram  presented  to  St.  John's  Church  in  memory  of  his  grandson,  Lewis  Jenkins  Chace,  1826-igob 


Chapter  XXIII 

ST.  MICHAELS  CHURCH,  BRISTOL 

Saint  MichaePs  Churchy  Bristol:  A  Sketch  Contri- 
buted [by  a  Writer  unknown\  to  the  ^'■Christian  Wit- 
ness^' in  1840. 

ANNO  Domini,  1680,  just  sixty  years  after 
±\.  the  first  settlement  of  New  England,  four 
gentlemen,  of  Boston,  purchased  all  that  traft  of 
land  now  included  within  the  limits  of  the  town 
of  Bristol,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  settle- 
ment on  the  banks  of  the  broad  waters  of  Nar- 
ragansett  Bay.  A  small  settlement  was  soon  col- 
le6led  by  emigrants  from  Plymouth,  and  a  few 
years  afterwards  a  town-meeting  was  called  and 
resolutions  were  adopted,  to  settle  a  Congrega- 
tional minister  and  impose  a  tax  on  all  the  in- 
habitants for  his  support.  No  opposition  was 
made  to  these  measures,  as  probably  there  were 
but  few,  if  any.  Churchmen  among  the  settlers. 
Under  these  religious  circumstances,  the  town 
of  New  Bristol  continued  for  a  number  of  years, 
till  in  the  early  part  of  the  eightee  ith  century 
some  feeble  efforts  were  made  to  form  an  Epis- 
copal society,  and  services  were  first  had  by  lay- 
men in  a  small  building  near  Mount  Hope;  but 
they  were  not  entirely  successful  until  the  year 
17 1 9,  when  renewed  exertions  were  made  to 
form  the  present  parish,  under  the  name  of  St. 
Michael's  Church.  A  petition  was  forwarded  to 
the  Bishop  of  London,^'^  and  application  made 
to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  society  (chartered 


2i6        The  Narragansett  Church 

but  eighteen  years  before  by  William  III),  the 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts;  and  the  following  year  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Orem  was  sent  over  by  that  Society. 

Immediately  after  writing  for  a  clergyman, 
the  new  parish  commenced  making  colle6lions 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  church.  Colonel 
Mackintosh  gave  the  ground  and  two  hundred 
pounds  in  money,  and  other  sums  were  received 
from  Boston  and  Newport,  and  the  balance,  mak- 
ing up  the  sum  of  fourteen  hundred  pounds,  was 
contributed  by  the  people  of  Bristol  and  the  ad- 
joining town  of  Swansea — alargesumforasmall 
and  poor  parish  to  raise  at  this  early  period.  On 
Mr.  Orem's  arrival  he  was  kindly  and  affection- 
ately received.  He  found  a  wooden  building,  with 
the  outside  and  steeple  finished,  but  nothing  done 
in  the  inside;  and  so  desirous  was  this  little  flock 
to  join  ii:  the  worship  of  their  own  Church,  that 
on  Saturday  evening  rough  boards  were  laid  for 
a  floor,  and  service  was  performed  the  next  day. 
The  congregation  was  larger  than  had  been  ex- 
pe6ted,  more  than  two  hundred  attending  and 
numbers  coming  from  the  neighbouring  towns. 
Mr.  Orem  was  a  man  of  strong  mind  and  pleas- 
ing manners,  and  the  governor  of  New  York 
soon  offered  him  the  situation  of  chaplain  to  his 
Majesty's  forces,  which  he  accepted,  and  in 
about  a  year  after  his  arrival  at  Bristol  he  re- 
moved to  New  York. 

The  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gos- 
pel in  Foreign  Parts,  not  willing  that  this  little 
flock  should  remain  in  the  wilderness, — for  such 


chapter  Twenty-third  217 

it  literally  was,  —  without  a  shepherd,  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  (1722)  sent  the  Rev.  John  Usher, 
who  was  cordially  received  and  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  his  mission  with  faithfulness  and 
zeal.  During  the  first  year  and  a  half  of  his  min- 
istry he  baptized  thirty-six,  and  the  first  name 
on  his  record  is  that  of  his  infant  son  John,  who 
bears  a  prominent  part  in  the  subsequent  history 
of  this  Church.  This  was  about  the  yearly  aver- 
age of  baptisms  during  Mr.  Usher's  missionary- 
ship.  This  infant  parish,  even  at  this  early  period, 
had  much  to  contend  with  from  prejudices 
against  the  Church  of  England,  its  members  be- 
ing taxed  for  the  support  of  the  Congregational 
minister  from  the  settlement  of  the  town  till  the 
year  1746,  and,  at  the  same  time,  raising  from 
eighty  to  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds  annu- 
ally toward  the  salary  of  their  own  clergyman. 
From  this  burden  they  made  a  number  of  inef- 
fectual attempts  to  be  released.  They,  however, 
bore  this  tax  with  becoming  submission,  but 
when  resolutions  were  about  to  be  adopted  in 
town-meeting,  in  1 726,  to  tax  them  to  repair  the 
meeting-house,  they  remonstrated  with  so  much 
warmth  that  it  was  thought  advisable  to  make 
the  necessary  repairs  by  private  contributions  in 
that  Society.  It  appears,  from  the  records  of  the 
town,  that  the  Church  people  were  among  the 
most  respectable  members  of  the  community. 
Some  of  them  were  elected  to  the  General  Court, 
others  as  moderators  of  the  town-meetings  and 
members  of  the  town  council. 

In  1728,  a  sum  was  raised  to  purchase  a  bell. 


2i8        The  Narragansett  Church 

and  application  made  to  Nathaniel  Kay,  Esq., 
to  order  one  from  England,  to  weigh  from  seven 
to  eight  hundred  pounds,  which,  in  due  time,  ar- 
rived at  Newport,  two  persons  being  sent  to 
bring  it  to  Bristol.  But  by  some  accident  on  its 
way  up  it  was  broken,  and  thus  the  anticipations 
of  several  years,  when  just  on  the  point  of  being 
realized,  were  disappointed.  This  may  appear  a 
trifling  circumstance,  but  to  them  it  was  no  in- 
considerable loss.  The  broken  bell  was  reshipped 
to  London,  by  the  way  of  Boston,  to  be  cast  anew ; 
and  when  it  was  again  received,  it  proved  to  be 
one  of  the  best-toned  bells  in  the  country,  and 
could  be  distinftly  heard  at  Pawtuxet,  a  distance 
of  at  least  twelve  miles. 

There  were  two  important  considerations  agi- 
tated in  the  parish  this  year  (1730)* which  ap- 
pear to  have  excited  considerable  interest:  one 
was,  whether  the  salary  of  Mr.  Gallup,  the  prin- 
cipal singer,  should  be  increased  from  thirty 
shillings,  and  the  other,  if  he  should  sing  with- 
out reading  the  first  line;  both  of  these  weighty 
questions  being  finally  submitted  to  the  decision 
of  the  redor.^^^ 

In  1 73 1,  the  society  had  so  much  increased, 
that,  for  the  accommodation  of  all  its  members,  it 
became  necessary  to  add  galleries  to  the  church, 
and  the  pews  in  them  were  readily  sold. 

A  singular  vote  was  this  year  passed,  which 
required  the  Rev.  Mr.  Usher  to  support  all  the 
widows  of  the  church  from  what  he  received 
as  his  own  salary,  small  as  it  must  have  been. 

Their  afi^airs  continued  prosperous,  and  the  fol- 


Chapter  Twenty-third  219 

lowing  year  a  steeple-clock  was  added  to  the 
Church. 

This  year  a  petition  was  forwarded  to  the  gov- 
ernor of  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  by  two  Epis- 
copalians, in  the  following  words: 

"That  your  Excellency  would  be  pleased  to  inter- 
pose in  our  behalf,  and  cause  us  to  be  released  from 
our  confinement,  and  our  property  restored,  we  being 
peaceable  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Swanzey,ourgoods 
and  chattels  having  been  distrained,  and  ourselves  now 
confined  in  the  county  jail  of  Bristol,  because  we  re- 
fused to  pay  the  salary  of  the  Congregational  minis- 
ter, when  we  are  regular  attendants  upon  the  Church 
of  England  worship." 

Thus  it  is  seen  that  the  same  spirit  of  religious 
persecution  (the  frailty  of  the  age) ,  which  the  first 
settlers  declared  they  fled  from  in  England,  was 
existing  in  their  own  breasts  and  was  exercised 
as  soon  as  they  had  the  ascendancy. 

An  event  occurred  in  1735,  which  has  re- 
sulted in  a  permanent  benefit  to  the  parish.  On 
the  death  of  Nathaniel  Kay,^'*'*  Esq.,  of  Newport, 
it  appeared  by  his  will  that  he  had  bequeathed 
a  valuable  farm  which  he  owned  in  the  town, 
and  two  hundred  pounds  in  money,  "to  the 
minister,  wardens,  and  vestry  of  St.  Michael's 
Church,"  for  the  education  often  poor  boys  of 
the  parish,  and  for  the  support  of  the  ministry, 
the  property  having  been  well  managed,  and  hav- 
ing afforded  a  handsome  income.  Whereupon  the 
Church  people  petitioned,  for  a  number  of  suc- 
cessive years,  to  be  exempted  from  being  taxed 
to  support  a  town  school;  and,  by  way  of  obtain- 


220        The  Narragansett  Church 

ing  their  obje6l,  they  say,  as  appears  by  the  town 
records,  "it  will  have  its  due  weight  with  those 
gentlemen  who  formerly  obje6led  against  your 
gentleman  school-master,  who  was  well  qualified 
to  teach,  for  no  other  reason  than  because  he 
went  to  the  Church  of  England  sometimes." 
This  petition  was  not  granted  till  six  years  after- 
wards, and  then  the  town  allowed  them  to  place 
their  school-house  on  the  public  land. 

In  1746,  that  part  of  the  county  of  Bristol 
in  which  the  town  of  Bristol  is  situated  was  set 
off  from  Massachusetts  to  Rhode  Island,  and  from 
that  date  it  does  not  appear  that  the  Congrega- 
tional minister's  salary  was  paid  by  a  general  tax 
on  all  the  inhabitants.  The  Church  of  England 
people  becoming  respeftable  in  numbers  as  well 
as  in  influence,  a  better  feeling  appears  to  have 
been  manifested  between  the  two  societies ;  and 
in  1 75 1,  both  ministers  were  entirely  exempted 
from  all  taxes.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Usher  was  per- 
mitted, by  a  vote  of  the  town,  to  place  a  pale 
fence  in  front  of  his  house,  and  his  son,  John 
Usher,  junior,  Esq.,  was  employed  to  teach  the 
town  school. 

The  Episcopal  clergy,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
American  Revolution,  were  charged  with  adher- 
ing to  the  British  government,  and,  if  so,  it  may 
not  be  considered  unnatural,  from  their  strong 
attachment  to  the  Established  Church,  and  from 
their  receiving  most  of  their  support  from  Eng- 
land. But  there  was  a  colle6lion  taken  up  in  the 
town  for  the  relief  of  the  Boston  sufferers,  and 
John  Usher's  name  appears  among  the  largest 


chapter  Twenty-third  221 

contributors.  Although  it  may  be  admitted  that 
the  imputed  partiaHty  of  the  clergy  for  Great 
Britain  was  not  patriotic,  yet  when  their  sym- 
pathies were  excited,  their  aftive  benevolence 
was  always  ready  to  relieve  distress,  from  what- 
ever source  it  might  have  originated. 

The  church  edifice  was  thoroughly  repaired  in 
1756,  and  from  that  time  till  1775  the  affairs  of 
the  Church  were  both  spiritually  and  temporally 
prosperous,  under  the  untiring  exertions  and  un- 
abating  zeal  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Usher.  At  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  nearly  eighty  ^^°  years,  he  relin- 
quished the  charge  ofhis  little  band  in  the  Church 
militant,  and  resigned  his  soul  unto  the  hands  of 
his  Maker,  to  join  the  Church  triumphant  in 
heaven,  there  to  meet  all  the  redeemed,  who  had 
joined  their  hearts  and  voices  with  him  in  the 
public  services  of  the  Church  below,  as  well  as 
imitated  his  own  unpretending  devotions. 

To  eulogize  the  chara6ter  of  this  devoted  ser- 
vant of  Christ  with  justice  requires  more  space 
than  can  be  afforded  in  this  brief  history.  He 
made  the  welfare  of  the  Church  the  whole  busi- 
ness of  his  life.  In  the  early  settlement  of  the 
town  he  suffered  deprivations,  hardships,  and 
mortifications  such  as  few  of  the  clergy  are  called 
upon  to  endure  at  the  present  day;  but,  from  a 
faithful  discharge  ofhis  duties,  he  now  rests  from 
his  labours. 

Mr.  Usher  during  his  ministry  baptized  seven 
hundred  and  thirteen,  performed  the  marriage 
ceremony  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  times,  and 
attended  two  hundred  and  seventy-four  funerals. 


222        The  Narragansett  Church 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Doyle,  of  Cambridge,  Massachu- 
setts, accepted  an  invitation  to  officiate  here  af- 
ter the  death  of  Mr.  Usher,  for  six  months;  but, 
his  health  failing,  he  left  before  the  term  of  his 
engagement  had  expired.  There  were  never  any- 
more services  held  in  the  church  from  that 
time,^^'  —  for,  as  reads  a  fragment  of  the  record, 
"our  parish  church,  raised  by  the  greatest  pos- 
sible exertions  of  our  forefathers,  when  there  were 
but  few  of  them,  and  they  poor,  was,  on  the  25th 
day  of  May,  1778,  burnt  to  ashes  by  a  band  of 
British  ruffians,  under  the  command  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Campbell,  from  Rhode  Island." 
If  any  circumstance  could  palliate  an  outrage 
upon  religious  feelings,  so  wanton,  sacrilegious, 
and  unnecessary,  it  was,  that  at  the  time  there 
was  a  prevailing  opinion,  that  the  soldiers  were 
informed  that  what  appeared  to  be  tombs  under 
the  church  were  the  powder-magazines  of  the 
town.  If  they  were  so  advised,  this  unchristian 
a6t  will  be  made  known  when  the  secrets  of 
all  hearts  shall  be  disclosed.  Here  let  us  pause 
in  this  narrative,  for  a  moment,  and  refleft  upon 
the  condition  of  the  parish  at  this  eventful  period 
—  a  strong  sectarian  opposition  to  the  Church, 
a  general  prejudice  against  everything  that  was 
thought  to  savour  of  England,  the  pecuniary  em- 
barrassment of  the  parishioners  occasioned  by 
the  war,  a  line  of  English  battle-ships  ranged  the 
whole  length  of  the  harbour,  the  place  a6tually 
invaded  by  the  enemy's  soldiers,  the  town  in 
flames,  the  little  temple  of  their  worship  in  ashes, 
the  few,  who  had  continued  faithful,  dispersed 


chapter  Twenty-third  223 

with  their  families  in  the  country  for  personal 
safety,  their  devoted  shepherd,  who  for  upwards 
of  half  a  century  had  folded  this  little  flock,  taken 
home  to  his  Father  in  Heaven,  and  deep  dis- 
tress pervading  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
land!  If  ever  men's  hearts  can  be  justified  for  fail- 
ing them  through  fear  of  final  dispersion,  or  for 
lacking  a  strong  faith  in  the  omnipotent  arm  of 
the  Saviour,  this  might  have  been  the  occasion. 
But  these  men  believed  that  those  who  trust 
in  the  Lord  shall  have  their  strength  renewed; 
and  John  Usher,  afterwards  the  second  Rev. 
John  Usher,  was  the  man  under  God,  with  two 
or  three  others,  who  manifested  his  faith,  that 
this  peculiar  vine,  which  Christ  had  planted,  and 
which  had  been  cultivated  by  the  prayers  and 
watered  by  so  many  tears  of  his  people,  should 
yet  live,  prosper,  and  bear  much  fruit  to  his  glory, 
—  a  faith  which  the  event  has  fully  justified. 

Here  is  a  perpetual  example  to  small  societies 
who  feel  depressed  and  desponding,  and  fear  that 
the  prospeftfor  continuing  their  Churches  is  du- 
bious. Let  them  reflect  on  the  condition  of  this 
parish,  at  its  darkest  hour,  and  the  reflection 
must  stimulate  them  to  more  active  exertions, 
and  to  secure  success;  for  in  this  country,  in  these 
prosperous  days,  "  no  sorrow  can  be  like  her  sor- 
row," no  distress  like  her  distress. 

Under  these  disastrous  circumstances,  when  to 
be  called  a  Churchman  was  considered  as  synon- 
ymous with  being  an  enemy  to  the  country, 
Mr.  Usher  never  omitted  to  collect  the  few  who 
were  left  of  the  parish  on  each  Easter  Monday 


224        The  Narragansett  Church 

(for  one  or  two  years  secretly,  as  he  says,  for 
reasons  hereafter  to  be  made  known),  and  to  go 
formally  through  the  duties  of  an  Easter  Mon- 
day meeting,  when  it  is  evident  that  but  two  or 
three  attended. 

He  colle6ted  the  small  remaining  parish  to- 
gether, after  the  termination  of  the  war,  every 
Sunday,  in  the  old  Court-house  and  read  to  them 
there,  till  a  new  church  was  built  in  1786,  a  neat 
plain  wooden  building,  sixty  feet  long  by  thirty- 
six  feet  wide,  where  he  continued  to  officiate  as 
a  layman  till  his  ordination  in  1793.  The  con- 
gregation had  so  much  diminished  from  the 
foregoing  causes,  that  the  few  who  still  adhered 
experienced  the  greatest  difficulties  in  raising 
means  to  defray  the  expense  of  the  building;  and 
when  the  pews  were  finished,  Mr.  Usher  soli- 
cited the  inhabitants  to  purchase  them,  offering 
them  their  choice  at  ten  dollars  apiece.  He 
could  hardly  have  hoped  that  the  little  parish, 
he  was  at  that  time  resuscitating,  would,  in  little 
more  than  forty  years,  ereft  a  beautiful  Gothic 
structure  ^^"^  on  the  site  of  their  humble  building, 
the  pews  of  which  would  be  eagerly  sought  after, 
at  between  three  and  four  hundred  dollars  apiece. 

Few  have  persevered  as  Mr.  Usher  did,  under 
so  many  conflicting  circumstances,  keeping  to- 
gether a  parish  for  eleven  years  by  lay  reading, 
at  a  time  when  the  strongest  opposition  was  ex- 
hibited toward  the  Church  from  the  mistaken 
idea,  prevailing  immediately  after  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  Revolutionary  War,  that  there  was 
still  some  connection  between  the  Protestant 


Chapter  Twenty-third  225 

Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  and  the 
Established  Church  of  England. 

During  the  time  of  Mr.  Usher's  reading,  the 
congregation  was  frequently  benefited  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  ordinances,  by  the  clergy  from 
Providence  and  Newport.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Graves, 
of  Providence,  thus  officiated  from  1780  to  1784; 
and,  in  1785,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Badger *^°  adminis- 
tered the  ordinances,  the  next  year  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Wheeler^"  being  present.  In  the  latter  part  of 
this  year,  the  new  church  was  so  far  completed 
that  it  was  opened  for  public  worship,  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Graves  administered  the  ordinance  of 
Baptism  for  the  first  time  in  the  newchurch.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Smith,^'*^  also,  of  Newport,  frequently 
attended. 

In  1 79 1,  twenty-five  persons  were  confirmed 
by  Bishop  Seabury,  and  in  1793,  Mr.  Usher,  so 
long  the  faithful  and  devoted  friend  and  reader 
to  this  Church,  received  Orders,  and  officiated 
with  success  till  the  year  1 800,  when,  at  his  ear- 
nest desire,  being  now  nearly  eighty  years  of  age, 
the  Rev.  Abraham  Clarke  was  settled  here,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Usher  often  officiating  at  the  baptisms, 
marriages,  and  funerals  of  his  old  and  long-tried 
friends.  In  1797,  twenty-nine  persons  were  con- 
firmed by  Bishop  Bass.  Difficulties  soon  arose 
after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Clarke,  and  he  con- 
tinued his  labours  here  but  about  three  years, 
when,  in  1803,  the  Rev.  Alexander  Viets  Gris- 
wold  became  the  re6tor  of  the  parish. 

The  same  year,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Usher,  then 
eighty-two  years  of  age,  prepared  to  render  up 


226        The  Narragansett  Church 

to  his  Divine  Master  the  long  account  of  his 
labours  on  earth;  and,  if  any  man  could  render 
up  his  account  with  joy,  Mr.  Usher  could  cer- 
tainly do  so.  He  was  the  first  infant  Episco- 
pally  baptized  in  Bristol,  and  devoted  his  long 
life  almost  entirely  to  the  interests  and  welfare 
of  the  Church,  and  in  circumstances  frequently 
the  most  trying  to  his  faith  in  God's  protecting 
and  sustaining  care.  But  at  the  closing  period  of 
his  protracted  life  a  brighter  day  was  dawning 
upon  the  Church  of  his  love,  and  he  committed 
his  little  and  beloved  flock,  with  most  heartfelt 
satisfaction  and  perfeCt  confidence,  to  the  paro- 
chial charge  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Griswold,  the  new 
reCtor.  How  far  he  was  justified  in  that  confi- 
dence, the  account  of  the  succeeding  prosperity 
of  the  church  will  abundantly  prove. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Usher  was  gathered  to  his  fa- 
thers in  July,  1804,  aged  eighty-two  years,  and 
his  remains,  with  those  of  his  father,  are  interred 
under  the  chancel  of  the  church. 

When  the  Rev.  Mr.  Griswold  entered  upon 
his  duties,  in  St.  Michael's  Parish,  the  list  of  com- 
municants, as  a  result  of  the  advanced  age  of  his 
predecessor,  the  difficulties  which  had  arisen 
during  Mr.  Clarke's  term  of  service  and  the  early 
prejudices  against  the  Church  not  yet  entirely 
removed,  had  been  reduced  to  only  nineteen. 
From  thisperiod,  however,  an  improvement  was 
apparent;  the  congregation  immediately  in-, 
creased  and  continued  to  do  so,  and  additions  to 
the  Communion  were  received  almost  every 
month.  These  gradual  accessions  maintained  a 


chapter  Twenty-third  227 

healthy  condition  of  the  church,  and  seldom  did 
an  instance  occur  that  a  member  thus  added  did 
not  remain  steadfast.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Griswold, 
in  18 10,  was  elefted  and,  in  181 1,  consecrated 
Bishop  of  the  Eastern  Diocese,  yet,  with  the  ad- 
ditional duties  of  the  Episcopate,  he  relaxed  in 
no  degree  his  labours  for  his  parish.  The  con- 
gregation had  so  much  increased,  that  it  was 
found  necessary  this  year  to  enlarge  the  church 
edifice,  and  about  twenty-four  feet  were  added 
to  the  west  end,  making  the  building  eighty- 
four  feet  long  but  not  proportionably  wide,  and 
the  old  part  was  thoroughly  repaired. 

The  good  seed  which  the  Bishop  had  been 
sowing  for  a  number  of  years  sprang  up,  in  1 8 1 2, 
into  a  glorious  harvest,  so  that  in  the  space  of  a 
few  months  about  one  hundred,  who  had  con- 
fessed the  faith  of  Christ  crucified,  presented 
themselves  for  Confirmation  and  were  received 
into  the  number  of  communicants.  The  afi^airs 
of  the  church  continued  so  prosperous  and  so 
much  increased  was  the  congregation,  that  in 
1 82 1  a  plan  was  suggested  for  the  building  of 
a  new  church  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  Rev. 
Silas  Blaisdale  was  invited  as  assistant  to  the 
Bishop;  an  invitation,  however,  which  Mr. 
Blaisdale  declined.  The  hope  of  building  a  new 
church  continued  until  1825,  when  one  of  the 
most  a6live  and  benevolent  members  of  the  par- 
ish, who  had  been  transafting  an  immense  com- 
mercial business,  was  unfortunate  and  became 
bankrupt  for  nearly  a  million  of  dollars.  This 
event  brought  so  much  pecuniary  distress  on  the 


228        The  Narragansett  Church 

whole  town  that  the  project  was  abandoned  for 
the  time,  to  be  again  renewed  under  more  favour- 
able circumstances.  Still,  Bishop  Griswold,  with 
unabating  efforts,  continued  his  exertions  for  the 
salvation  of  his  people,  and  numbers  were  united 
to  the  Church  by  Baptism  and  to  the  Commun- 
ion by  Confirmation.  He  thus  laboured  for  this, 
his  parochial  charge,  till  1829,  when,  the  affairs 
of  the  Diocese  requiring  his  continued  presence 
in  a  more  central  position,  he  removed  to  Salem 
in  Massachusetts.  It  was  with  deep  regret  that  he 
parted  with  such  devoted  friends,  who,  for  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  had  endeared  themselves  to  him 
by  innumerable  a6ts  of  kindness  and  who  would, 
as  St.  Paul  says,  "if  it  had  been  possible,  have 
plucked  out  their  own  eyes  and  have  given  them 
to  him."  At  the  time  of  final  separation,  unani- 
mous votes  of  the  parish  were  passed,  expressing 
their  continued  affedlion  for  him  and  their  regret 
at  his  leaving. 

The  Bishop,  as  before  stated,  found  but  nine- 
teen communicants  when  he  commenced  his 
labours  here,  and  when  he  concluded  them  he 
left  about  two  hundred.  His  upright  and  even 
conduct,  pious  conversation,  and  consistent  walk 
in  life  had  the  most  beneficial  influence,  not  only 
on  the  members  of  St.  Michael's  congregation 
but  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  generally. 
When  he  appeared  in  the  street  the  drunkard 
immediately  sought  a  fixed  position  to  steady  his 
reeling  motions,  and  profanity  and  obscenity  in- 
stantly shut  their  mouths  at  his  approach,  while 
all  assumed  a  more  circumspect  conduct  when 


chapter  Twenty-third  229 

conscious  of  his  observation.  This  result  was  not 
produced  by  an  assumed  sanctity  or  austerity  of 
manner,  but  by  a  Hfe,  both  in  private  and  in 
pubHc,  corresponding  v^ith  the  do(5trines  w^hich 
he  taught. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  Bishop's 
connexion  with  this  parish,  he  was  in  the  habit 
of  preaching  three  sermons  each  week,  and,  be- 
sides his  daily  parochial  visits,  he  was  in  the  con- 
stant praftice  of  meeting  more  or  less  of  his  peo- 
ple on  one  evening  in  the  week  for  the  purpose 
of  social  worship.  His  usual  method,  after  offer- 
ing prayers  from  the  liturgy,  which  he  never 
omitted,  and  singing,  was  to  read  a  chapter  from 
the  Bible  and,  in  a  plain,  unostentatious  manner, 
explain  its  meaning  and  apply  its  instrudlion  to 
the  benefit  of  his  little  but  attentive  congrega- 
tion. These  meetings  were  rendered  still  more 
interesting  and  instru6live  by  asking  the  Bishop 
questions  (which  the  people  were  always  at  lib- 
erty to  propose),  on  the  chapter  read,  or  any  other 
religious  subje61:,  and  which  he  always  very 
kindly  answered.  If  there  appeared  among  his 
hearers  more  than  their  accustomed  attention  to 
religion,  he  would  meet  them  oftener,  and  give 
them  his  pious  and  affe6tionate  advice.  The 
meeting  was  usually  closed,  at  the  request  of  the 
Bishop,  with  a  prayer  by  one  of  the  brethren. 
These  meetings,  after  they  were  first  commenced, 
were  never  omitted,  during  the  whole  time  he 
had  the  charge  of  this  parish,  and  the  blessed 
effects  resulting  from  them  will  be  most  grate- 
fully remembered  by  all  who  attended  them,  to 


230        The  Narragansett  Church 

their  latest  breath.  The  brethren  of  the  church 
also  met  for  religious  conference  and  prayer, 
where  the  most  perfeft  decorum  always  pre- 
vailed. The  female  members  had  also  their  more 
private  and  humble  meetings  for  prayer  and 
praise.  All  which  are  indications  of  the  spiritual 
condition  of  the  church  at  this  time. 

During  the  Bishop's  redlorship,  a  society  was 
formed  by  the  ladies  of  the  parish,  under  the 
name  of  the  Female  Missionary  Society  of  St. 
Michael's  Church,  and  its  members  deserve  all 
praise  for  their  benevolence;  for  they  have  never 
omitted  their  weekly  meetings  or  their  annual 
contributions  to  the  missionary  cause,  and  the 
sums  of  money  which  they  have  contributed 
since  the  commencement  of  the  society  have 
amounted  to  several  thousand  dollars.  Their 
highly  commendable  zeal  to  extend  the  king- 
dom of  the  Redeemer  over  the  whole  world  ap- 
pears, at  the  present  time,  to  be  increasing  rather 
than  diminishing.  About  the  time  of  the  forma- 
tion of  this  society,  the  Sunday-school  was  be- 
gun under  the  most  favourable  auspices,  the  su- 
perintendent and  teachers  being  pious,  devoted, 
and  highly  respeftable  persons,  and  the  result 
having  been  most  salutary  and  beneficial. 

John  Bristed,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  of  high  lite- 
rary attainments,  who  had,  a  few  years  before, 
relinquished  a  lucrative  professional  business  in 
the  city  of  New  York  to  devote  the  remainder 
of  his  life  more  immediately  to  the  service  of 
his  God,  retired  to  the  pleasant  and  quiet  vil- 
lage of  Bristol,  from  the  noise  and  bustle  of  that 


chapter  Twenty-third  231 

a6live  city,  to  prosecute  his  studies  in  divinity 
more  effeftually,  in  the  vicinity  and  under  the 
dire6lion  of  Bishop  Griswold.  After  his  ordina- 
tion, he  remained  here  and  rendered  acceptable 
gratuitous  assistance  to  the  Bishop,  supplying 
his  pulpit  during  his  frequent  and  necessary 
absences  on  Episcopal  visitations.  On  the  Bi- 
shop's removal  to  Salem,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bristed 
was  invited  to  officiate,  "for  the  time  being,"  and, 
shortly  afterward,  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the 
vestry,  was  elected  the  permanent  reftor  of  the 
parish,  being  instituted  in  March,  1834.^^^  Mr. 
Bristed  began  his  new  labours  with  ability  and 
zeal,  the  parish  continued  as  flourishing  as  for- 
merly, and,  in  the  winter  of  1830-31,  large  ac- 
cessions were  made  to  the  Communion ;  a  general 
and  anxious  inquiry  was  made  after  the  way  of 
righteousness,  and  more  than  one  hundred  were 
added  to  the  Church,  being  soon  after  confirmed. 
But  it  is  deeply  to  be  deplored  that,  after  an  un- 
usual awakening,when  large  accessions  have  been 
made  to  the  Church,  in  some  instances  a  whole 
year  has  afterwards  elapsed,  with  the  addition 
of  scarcely  one  new  communicant.  Whether  a 
church  is  more  benefited  and  more  persons  are 
brought  to  acknowledge  the  truth  by  occasional 
revivals,  or  by  a  uniform  and  continuous  aug- 
mentation, probably  creates,  in  the  minds  of  many 
devout  persons,  doubts,  which  it  would  be  ex- 
ceedingly desirable  to  have  removed. 

Some  years  before  Bishop  Griswold  left  Bris- 
tol efforts  had  been  made  to  establish  an  Epis- 
copal society  in  the  adjoining  and  prosperous 


232        The  Narragansett  Church 

town  of  Warren,  which  were  cordially  seconded 
by  many  of  its  most  respeftable  inhabitants,  and 
Mr.  Bristed  continued  to  render  most  accepta- 
ble aid  to  that  new  parish,  till  the  Rev.  George 
W.  Hathaway  was  settled  there.  Mr.  Bristed  is 
also  entitled  to  much  praise  for  his  services  in 
assisting  to  collect  and  sustain  many  new  par- 
ishes in  this  State  since  his  ordination.  In  1833, 
it  was  ascertained  that  the  church  edifice  re- 
quired very  considerable  repairs  and  that  it  did 
not  well  accommodate  all  who  worshipped 
within  its  walls.  By  the  aftive  exertions  of  Mr. 
Bristed,  seconded  by  most  of  his  congregation, 
resolutions  were  adopted  to  take  down  the  old 
church  and  ere6t  a  new  one  in  its  place.  This 
was  carried  into  immediate  efFe6t,  and,  the  next 
year,  there  was  completely  finished  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  commodious  Gothic  churches 
in  the  country,  eighty-five  feet  long  by  fifty-four 
feet  wide,  covering  the  long-endeared  site  on 
which  the  two  former  churches  had  stood.  The 
church  was  consecrated  by  the  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  Griswold,  on  the  sixth  day  of  March, 
1834,  and  on  the  next  day  a  sufficient  number 
of  pews  were  sold  to  defray  the  whole  cost  of 
the  building  (amounting  to  nineteen  thousand 
dollars), including  a  basement  le(5lure-room  fifty 
feet  square,  a  large  organ,  and  a  fine-toned  bell. 
In  1837,  Mr.  Bristed's  general  health  in  a 
degree  failing,  he  employed  the  Rev.  Francis 
Peck'^^  to  assist  himfora  number  of  months,  but, 
a  situation  which  might  increase  his  usefulness 
being  offered  Mr.  Peck  in  the  city  of  Baltimore, 


Chapter  Twenty-third  233 

he  thought  it  advisable  to  accept  it  and  remove 
thither. 

An  addition  of  a  number  of  respe6lable  fa- 
milies was  made  to  the  parish  in  1838,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  dissolution  of  the  society  of  the 
Reformed  Methodists,  a  large  proportion  of  its 
members  uniting  with  the  Church. 

Mr.  Bristed  has  always,  when  his  health  has 
permitted,  been  in  the  habit  of  preaching  two 
sermons  on  the  Sabbath  and  delivering  a  le6lure 
in  the  lecture-room  on  Sunday  evening.  Both  of 
these  kinds  of  service  are  highly  acceptable,  the 
large  room  being  always  crowded.  On  one  other 
evening  in  the  week,  he  meets  his  congregation 
for  social  worship.  The  brethren  also  continue 
their  prayer  and  conference  meetings.  Mr.  Bris- 
ted, by  collections  taken  at  the  monthly  concert 
of  prayer-meetings  and  by  his  own  liberality,  con- 
stantly supports  one  student  for  the  ministry  at 
one  of  the  Episcopal  theological  seminaries. 

Mr.  Bristed's  health  continuing  feeble  and  not 
adequate  to  the  parochial  duties  of  the  parish, 
the  Rev.  Thomas  F.  Fales  has  been  employed 
as  his  assistant,  and  he  is  now  in  that  capacity 
acceptably  officiating  here. 

The  communicants  now  number  two  hundred 
and  eighty-seven,  the  congregation  being  respec- 
table, and  the  largest  in  the  town.  Ten  poor  boys 
continue  [1840]  to  be  educated  from  the  Na- 
thaniel Kay  fund.  The  Sunday-school  is  in  a  most 
flourishing  condition,  with  thirty-five  teachers, 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  scholars,  and  a  suf- 
ficient library.  The  services  of  the  sanftuary  are 


234        The  Narragansett  Church 

rendered  more  perfe6l  by  a  large  and  well  in- 
structed choir  of  singers. 

Thus  this  Church,  which  began  with  doubt- 
ful prospers  of  success,  when  there  were  but 
two  other  Episcopal  societies  in  the  future  State 
of  Rhode  Island,  and  they  in  their  infancy,  hav- 
ing literally  passed  through  fiery  trials,  and  ex- 
perienced oppositions,  difficulties,  and  depres- 
sions which  few  of  our  churches  have  been  called 
upon  to  suffisr,  is  now,  a.d.  1840,  through  the 
infinite  goodness  and  sustaining  care  of  God,  one 
of  the  most  prosperous  parishes  in  the  State. 

"  For  His  all-prote£iing  and  sustaining  care,  the  Lord 
be  praised." 


SUBSEQUENT  RECTORS 

James  W.  Cooke  1 844- 1 8 50 

Joseph  Trapnell,  junior  1851-1857 

William  Stowe  1858-1865 

L.  P.  W.  Balch,  D.D.  1865-1866 

George  L.  Locke,  D.D.  1867- 


Notes 


I 


Notes 

535    "Mr.  Samuel  FayerweatherT 

N  addition  to  the  information  given  in  the  text  con- 
cerning the  origin  of  Mr.  Fayerweather,it  maybe  noted 
that,  on  his  mother's  side,  he  was  descended  from  the 
well-known  Waldo  family  of  Boston,  his  native  town, 
being  a  grandson  of  Jonathan  Waldo^"  (a  wealthy  mer- 
chant of  that  place,  and  a  brigadier-general  at  the  cap- 
ture of  Louisburg),  and  a  nephew  of  Samuel  Waldo 
(born  1696,  died  1759),  the  proprietor  of  an  immense 
landed  estate  in  Maine,  from  whom  he  seems  to  have 
received  his  Christian  name.  Mr.  Fayerweather  had  a 
sister  Hannah  (named  for  their  mother,  Hannah  Waldo), 
who  became  Mrs.  Winthrop,  of  Cambridge,  and  who 
is  mentioned  in  his  will,  along  with  her  son  John.  A 
biographical  sketch  of  Professor  John  Winthrop, of  Har- 
vard College  (born  1714,  died  1779)  {Popular  Science 
Monthly^  xxxix.  841),  states  that  he  married,  as  his 
second  wife,  in  1756,  "Hannah,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Fayerweather,  and  widow  of  Farr  Tolman,  of  Boston." 
Dr.  Benjamin  Waterhouse,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Updike, 
dated  "Cambridge  23*^  May,  1837,"  remarks,  "Some 
of  the  Fayerweathers  are  still  living  in  this  town." 

It  does  not  appear  that  Mr.  Fayerweather  was  a  mis- 
sionary of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gos- 
pel during  his  previous  residence  at  Georgetown,  on 
Winyaw  Bay,  in  South  Carolina,  his  engagement,  on 
the  "  Missionary  Roll,"  being  limited  to  "  Narragansett, 
1758-80."  The  discrepancy  between  the  former  of  these 
dates  and  the  year  1760,  in  which  he  is  represented, 
in  the  text,  as  entering  upon  his  work  at  St.  Paul's,  is 
accounted  for  by  delay  in  the  transmission  of  letters 
concerning  his  appointment  and  the  length  of  time 
occupied  in  removal.  The  successor  of  Dr.  MacSparran 
was  commonly  styled  "Parson  Fayerweather,"  although 
he  is  repeatedly  called  "Dodior"  in  old  letters  and  re- 
cords. There  does  not,  however,  seem  to  be  any  evidence 
of  his  having  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 


238  Notes 

The  Digest  of  S.  P.  G.  Records  (p.  45)  recounts  that 
"The  Rev.  Mr.  Fayerweather,  at  Narragansett,  had 
his  dwelling 'in  the  midst . .  .  of  enemies,  Quakers,  Ana- 
baptists,Antipaedobaptists, Presbyterians, Independents, 
Dippers,  Levellers,  Sabbatarians,  Muggletonians  and 
Brownists,'  who  united  'in  nothing  but  pulling  down 
the  Church  of  England.'  "  In  these  circumstances  it 
was  perhaps  not  unnatural  that  the  reverend  gentle- 
man, by  whom  the  above  account  of  his  surroundings 
must  have  been  reported,  found  it  wise  "to  be  mild  and 
gentle,  peaceable  and  forbearing."  Mr.  Daniel  Updike, 
in  a  letter  to  Bishop  Griswold,  in  1806,  testifies:  "The 
congregation  may  be  said  to  have  decreased  since  the 
death  of  Dr.  MacSparran. .  .  .  His  successor,  though  a 
man  of  great  talents,  attended  but  little  to  . . .  the  mi- 
nutiae of  his  duty." 

^^6    "Do^or  Brislowe.'* 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Bristowe,  who  appears  to  have  died  some 
little  time  previously  to  the  date  (September  21, 1758) 
of  the  letter  referred  to,  left  a  large  library  to  the  S.  P.  G. 
to  be  applied  according  to  its  discretion.  From  this  col- 
ledlion,  in  that  same  year,  the  Society  appropriated  1 500 
volumes  for  the  foundation  of  the  library  of  King's 
(new  Columbia)  College,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  then 
in  process  of  establishment  under  its  encouragement  and 
beneficence.  (Digest  of  S.  P.  G.  Records, pp.  775,776, 
798.)  The  death  of  Dr.  Bristowe,  a  benefactor  of  the 
Society,  seems  to  have  given  rise  to  a  report  of  the  death 
of  its  secretary,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bearcroft. 

537  "The  Rev.  Dr.  Sliksr 

This  refers  to  the  well-known  Ezra  Stiles  (born  in  New 
Haven,  November  29,  1727;  died  in  the  same  town. 
May  12,  1795),  president  of  Yale  College  from  1778 
until  his  death. 

538  "Painted  in  London." 

Copley  continued  to  live  in  Boston  for  eighteen  years 
after  Mr.  Fayerweather  was  ordained,  executing  por- 
traits of  many  members  of  the  leading  families  of  the 


Notes  239 

town,  such  as  those  with  which  the  clergyman  was  con- 
necSted.  He  did  not  settle  in  London  until  1775,  after 
Mr.  Fayerweather  had  been  long  established  in  Narra- 
gansett,  there  being  no  record  of  the  latter's  going  abroad 
between  that  date  and  his  death,  in  1781. 

539  '■^Philip  Bear  croft ^  Secretary,^'' 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Bearcroft  was  the  fourth  secretary  of 
the  S.  P.  G.,  serving  from  1739  to  1761,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Burton. 

540  "T/^^  use  and  support  of  a  Right  Reverend  Dio- 
cesan'' 

This  somewhat  high-sounding  phrase  was  not  the  term 
employed  by  Dr.  MacSparran  in  his  will,  but  appears  to 
have  been  introduced  into  the  Parish  Register  by  his  suc- 
cessor, who,  in  recording  the  disposition  of  the  Do£lor's 
farm,  adds,  in  his  charaileristic  style:  "The  Whole  of 
which  was  Originally  Designed  and  Bequeathed  To  A 
Right  ReverendDiocesan,^!  Case  One  of  that  Holy 
and  Ever  To  be  Revered  order  should  Come  to  Ame- 
rica." It  is  noticeable  that,  as  soon  as  the  S.  P.  G.  was 
founded,  its  missionaries  in  America  began  to  take  the 
initiative  for  the  introduction  of  resident  bishops.  Dr. 
Thomas  Bray,  one  of  the  original  promoters  of  the  So- 
ciety, and  the  Rev.  John  Talbot,  later  one  of  the  non- 
juring  bishops,  advocated  the  cause  in  1701  and  1702. 
In  1 707,  the  Rev.  Evan  Evans,  sent  to  Philadelphia  by 
the  Bishop  of  London  in  1700,  in  a  letter  on  "The 
State  of  the  Church  in  Pennsylvania,"  brought  out  some 
new  points  upon  the  need  of  episcopal  authority  in  the 
colonies.  In  17 13,  the  ministers  and  wardens  of  the 
church  in  Boston,  acting  under  the  inspiration  of  Gov- 
ernor Nicholson,  petitioned  the  Society  and  sent  an 
address  to  Queen  Anne  upon  the  subje6l,  there  being 
records  of  simultaneous  petitions  of  the  same  nature 
from  New  York  and  Rhode  Island.  In  17 18,  an  ad- 
dress upon  the  grievances  resulting  from  the  lack  of  the 
episcopate  was  sent  by  the  vestries  of  Christ's  Church, 
Philadelphia,  and  St.  Ann's,  Burlington,  and  others  to 
the  archbishops  and  bishops  of  the  Church  of  England. 


240  Notes 

The  first  step  in  this  dirediion,  in  Connecticut,  was 
taken  by  the  Rev.  George  Pigot,  who  had  been  settled 
at  Stratford  in  1722.  Dr.  Johnson  and  Dr.  Cutler  in- 
terested themselves  in  the  cause,  at  about  the  same 
period.  The  subje6l  was  also  discussed  at  a  convention, 
in  1 725, in  Newport, and  at  another  in  Boston,  in  1727. 
(Cross's  Anglican  Episcopate^  pp.  93-104;  Batchelder's 
History  of  the  Eastern  Diocese^  i.  383-5  ;  Hawkins's  Mis- 
sions of  the  Church  of  England^  pp.  384-5.) 

Dr.  MacSparran  was  not,  therefore,  broaching  an 
individual  missionary  scheme  in  attempting  to  provide 
a  seat  for  a  bishop  of  New  England,  although  one  who 
visits  the  solitary  and  remote  site  of  the  glebe-house 
to-day  cannot  help  marvelling  that  the  good  mission- 
ary judged  it  fitted  to  prove  a  convenient  episcopal 
dwelling-place.  The  language  of  the  Doctor's  will  (made 
May  23,  1753)  upon  this  subje6l  is  as  follows:  "Item. 
After  the  decease  of  my  said  wife  [Hannah  MacSpar- 
ran] I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  the  farm,  that  I  bought 
of  Dr.  Gardiner  and  the  addition  thereto,  which  I  bought 
of  William  Gardiner,  as  a  manse  or  convenient  dwell- 
ing-house (with  all  the  Houses  and  Improvements 
thereon)  to  such  Bishop  of  the  Reformed  religion,  as 
the  same  is  now  named  and  established  in  England,  and 
to  his  successors  forever  in  said  high  and  holy  office,  as 
shall  be  regularly  and  legally  sent  and  set  over  that  part 
of  his  Majesty's  Territories,  where  said  seat  or  farm 
lies.  But  I  make  this  donation  and  will  it  to  take  efFe6t, 
with  these  two  provisos.  The  first  condition  is  that,  at 
the  least,  the  first  three  Bishops  in  direct  succession  be 
born  and  educated  in  Great  Britain  or  Ireland;  which 
I  do,  not  out  of  any  national  spirit, but  because  I  imagine 
episcopacy  cannot  be  so  well  preserved,  in  its  purity  and 
due  dignity,  in  any  other  manner,  at  the  first.  The  second 
condition  is  that  a  Bishop  be  sent,  at  longest,  within 
seven  years  after  my  wife's  decease.  And  lest  the  Town 
Council, who  are  bylaw  empowered, should  intermeddle 
with  said  estate,  I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  the  rents, — 
and  profits  of  said  estate,  after  the  death  of  my  said  wife, 
during  the  aforesaid  term  of  seven  years,  one  moiety  to 


Notes  241 

D06I.  Sylvester  Gardiner,  of  Boston,  and  the  other  moi- 
ety to  my  friend  Capt.  Philip  Wilkinson,  for  their  care, 
in  keeping  things  in  repair." 

It  is  remarkable  that,  of  the  six  bishops  who  have 
had  jurisdi6lion  over  the  "part  of  his  Majesty's  Ter- 
ritories, where  said  seat  or  farm  lies,"  no  one  could  have 
claimed  the  bequest,  even  if  he  had  been  sent  within 
the  specified  period,  not  having  been  born  in  Great  Bri- 
tain or  Ireland.  It  is  also  difficult  to  see  how  the  first 
bishop,  even  if  born  in  the  United  Kingdom  and  sent 
in  time,  could  have  entered  into  possession,  inasmuch 
as  it  could  not  be  known,  during  his  lifetime,  whether 
or  not  his  two  successors  would  fulfil  the  first  condition, 
without  which  the  bequest  was  to  be  inoperative. 

541  ^^'Then  he  devised  the  same  estate.'' 

The  alternative  provision  of  Dr.  MacSparran's  will  is 
as  follows:  "But  should  it  so  happen  no  Bishop  should 
be  sent  to  preside  over  the  American,  Nov-Anglian 
Churches,  then  I  do  hereby  give,  devise  and  bequeath 
that  said  estate  shall  pafs  unto  Do6tor  Sylvester  Gar- 
diner, of  Boston,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever  and  unto 
James  MacSparran  (the  eldest  son  of  my  only  brother 
Archibald  MacSparran  dec'd,)  his  heirs  and  assigns,  to 
be  equally  divided  between  them  forever."  The  Do6lor 
also  gave  a  lot  on  his  farm,  for  a  church,  if  one  should 
be  built  there,  the  land  continuing  long  to  be  called 
"the  hill  lot,"  although  never  used  for  the  designated 
purpose. 

542  ^^  James  MacSparran ^  the  son  of  his  brother  Archi- 
bald:' 

In  addition  to  what  is  contained  in  Note  88  and  the 
corresponding  text,  concerning  Dr.  MacSparran's  fa- 
mily, it  may  be  noted  that  his  brother  Archibald  emi- 
grated to  America,  probably  in  1736  or  1737,  and  set- 
tled at  Newcastle,  on  Delaware  Bay.  He  had  seven 
children,  of  whom  the  four  sons  were  named  John, 
James,  Archibald,  and  Joseph.  James  was  a  husband- 
man, continuing  to  live  with  his  father  and  finally  en- 
tering into  possession  of  the  homestead.  As  the  Do6lor 


242  Notes 

styles  James,  in  his  will,  "the  eldest  son,"  it  Is  proba- 
ble that  John,  who  became  a  merchant  in  Philadelphia, 
had  died  before  1753.  The  Doftor  speaks  of  the  emi- 
gration and  recent  death  of  his  brother  Archibald  in  his 
Diary ^  in  an  entry  of  November  18,  1751. 

543  *'T'o  . .  .  Lessen  the  expense  to  .  .  .  the  Parish  of 
St.  Pauls." 

Immediately  after  the  passage,  in  the  Parish  Register, 
closing  with  the  above  words  occurs  the  following: 
"And  Previous  To  the  Completion  of  This,  an  Adiof 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony  was  found  ne- 
cessary and  obtained,  though  with  opposition  and  Diffi- 
culty, For  the  Transferring  of  the  Property  of  another 
Glebe  Given  for  the  use  of  the  Church  In  North  Kings- 
town By  one  Mr.  Norton,  A  Taylor  In  Newport,  which 
was  sold  for  One  hundred  Pound  Sterling,  and  the  Money 
for  which  it  was  Sold,  went  towards  the  Paying  So  much 
in  the  Specie  or  Sterling  money  of  Great  Britain,  as  to 
the  new  Purchase  of  Do6tor  MacSparran's  Farm." 

The  "Mr.  Norton,"  thus  referred  to, is,  doubtless, 
Nathaniel  Norton,  a  member  of  Trinity  Parish,  New- 
port, at  least  as  early  as  1734,  who  gave  land,  in  his 
will,  to  his  own  church  also.  November  24,  1783,  it 
was  voted  by  the  congregation  of  Trinity  Church,  that 
the  wardens  and  vestry  be  requested  to  petition  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  for  liberty  to  dispose  of  the  lot  of  land 
left  to  the  church  by  Nathaniel  Norton,  deceased,  ly- 
ing in  North  Kingstown,  the  same  being  of  no  use  to 
the  church,  and  that  the  money  arising  from  the  sale 
thereof  be  invested  in  real  estate  in  Newport.  Permis- 
sion having  been  obtained  in  the  following  year,  the 
land  seems  to  have  been  sold  in  1 796,  and  the  proceeds 
devoted  to  enlarging  the  church-yard  toward  the  west. 

544  ^'■Thomas  Brown^  Esq." 

A  reference  will  be  found  to  Mr.  Brown,  under  an  en- 
try of  April  24,  1 768,  in  the  text.  Thomas  Brown  was 
the  second  of  four  sons  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Brown, 
and  was  born  August  23,  171 1.  On  his  mother's  side, 
he  was  a  nephew  of  Deputy  Governor  William  Rob- 


Notes  243 

inson.  He  left  a  large  fortune  to  his  brother  Robert's 
eldest  son,  who  became  Lieutenant-Governor  George 
Brown. 

545  ^^Captain  John  Brown^  Esq.,  of  Newport." 
Captain  Brown,  an  ailive  member  and  vestryman  of 
Trinity  Parish,  was  a  merchant  and,  in  conjundlionwith 
Godfrey  Malbone  and  George  Wanton,  fitted  out  pri- 
vateers during  the  second  Spanish  war.  He  married,  in 
1717,  Jane,  a  daughter  of  Augustus  Lucas,^^  and  died 
January  2, 1764.  His  brother  Peleg  was,  for  many  years, 
a  vestryman  or  a  warden  of  Trinity  Church,  and  his 
daughter  Jane  was  the  first  wife  of  Thomas  Vernon, 
"eldest  Churchwarden"  of  that  parish.  Dr.  MacSpar- 
ran  relates,  in  his  Diary.,  that,  on  the  occasion  of  the 
holding  of  the  convention  at  Newport,  in  June,  1745, 
he  dined,  in  company  with  the  clergy,  at  "Capt.  Jn° 
Brown's."  (Mason's  Annals  of  Trinity  Church ^Neiuport^ 
pp.  77,  104,  131.) 

546  ^^ Matthew  Robinson-,  Esq. ; . . .  Lodowick  Updike.''^ 
Notices  of  Mr.  Robinson  and  Mr.  Updike  will  be  found 
a  few  pages  below,  in  the  text. 

547  '■'■His  History  of  the  Three  Judges." 

The  full  title  of  Dr.  Stiles's  work  is  History  of  Three 
of  the  fudges  of  Charles  I. ^Major-General  IVhalley.,  Ma- 
jor-General  Gojfe  and  Colonel  Dixwell^  &'c.,  with  an  Ac- 
count of  Mr.  Theophilus  IVhale  of  Narragansett.,  Hart- 
ford, 1794.  Mr.  Whale  (or  Whaley,  or  Whailey)  was 
popularly  supposed  to  have  been  one  of  the  regicide 
judges, presumably  identical  with  Major-General  Whai- 
ley or  with  his  brother  Robert.  An  account  of  "  old  Colo- 
nel Whailey"  will  be  found  in  the  text,  below,  under 
an  entry  of  April  16,  1772  (Vol.  ii.  p.  100). 

548  "^He  had  three  sons,  Hezekiah,  James,  and  An- 
drew." 

Dr.  Stiles  is  not  to  be  understood  as  intending  to  assert 
that  these  three  were  all  the  sons  of  Thomas  Willet  (or 
Willett),  but  rather  that  they  were  those  with  whose 


244  Notes 

careers  he  chanced  to  be  familiar.  Mr.  Willet  had  thir- 
teen children,  of  whom  eight  were  sons,  four  of  them 
dying  young.  In  addition  to  the  twelve  children  men- 
tioned below,  in  the  text,  from  Judge  Baffin's  memo- 
randum book,  there  was  a  second  Hezekiah,  born  No- 
vember 17,  1653,  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^  '^^^  killed  by  the  In- 
dians when  Swansea,  Massachusetts,  was  laid  waste  by 
fire  in  1676  (not  1675),  the  first  of  the  name,  born  in 
1 65 1 ,  having  died  the  same  year.  The  second  Hezekiah 
lived  in  Swansea,  and  married  Ann  Brown  six  months 
before  his  death,  having  no  issue.  James  was  twice 
married,  having  four  children  by  his  second  wife,  and 
removed  from  Rehoboth,  Massachusetts,  to  New  Lon- 
don in  or  before  1681.  After  leaving  Boston,  Andrew 
Willet  is  said  to  have  lived  for  some  time  in  Newport 
before  removing  to  Kings  Town. 

549  "^  daughter" 

Andrew  Willet,  as  will  be  seen  two  or  three  pages  be- 
low, in  the  text,  had  three  daughters,  Anne  and  Mary, 
who  were  married,  in  1707  and  17 10,  to  Joseph  Car- 
penter, and  Martha,  who  married  Simon  Pease. 

550  ^'■Wilson  in  Massachusetts ." 

It  is  somewhat  difficult  to  identify  any  daughter  of 
Thomas  Willet,  as  having  become  Mrs.  Wilson.  Mrs. 
Hooker,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five,  married,  as  a  second 
husband,  Thomas  Buckingham.  Mrs.  Saffin  and  Mrs. 
Eliot  died  before  their  husbands,  and  Rebecca  died  at 
the  age  of  four  or  five  years.  The  only  remaining  one, 
Mrs.  Flynt,  outlived  her  husband  many  years,  the  re- 
cord of  any  second  marriage  being,  however,  appar- 
ently lacking.  Nor  did  Colonel  Francis  Willet  have  any 
aunt  Wilson  upon  the  side  of  his  mother,  Anne, daugh- 
ter of  Governor  William  Coddington.  The  only  promi- 
nent ministerial  Wilson  family  in  Massachusetts  at  that 
period  appears  to  have  been  that  of  the  Rev.  John  Wil- 
son, who  emigrated  from  England  to  Massachusetts  Bay 
in  1630,  in  the  great  fleet  with  John  Winthrop,  and 
was  pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Boston  from  1632 
until  his  death,  in  1667.  For  his  services  as  chaplain  at 


Notes  245 

the  time  of  the  Pequot  expedition,  Mr.  Wilson  was 
awarded  a  grant  of  one  thousand  acres  of  land  in  what 
is  now  Quincy.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  Mrs.  Flynt, 
after  the  death  of  her  husband  in  1680,  married  a  grand- 
son of  the  old  pastor  and  lived  upon  the  family  lands, 
where  her  daughter,  Dorothy  Flynt,  after  a  few  years, 
married  their  neighbour,  Edmund  Quincy. 

551  ^'■Hooker  in  Conne^icuty 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Hooker  (born  1632;  died  Novem- 
ber 6, 1697)  who,  September  22,  1658,  married  Mary 
Willet,  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker  (born 
in  England,  1586;  died  in  Hartford,  ConnecSlicut,  July 
7,  1647)  w^*^  ^^^  from  the  alleged  arbitrary  rule  of 
Archbishop  Laud  to  Holland,  in  1630,  and  emigrated 
thence  to  New  England,  in  1633.  Thomas  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  town  of  Hartford,  bringing  hither 
with  him,  in  1636,  his  whole  congregation  from  New- 
town (now  Cambridge),  Massachusetts,  his  death,  a  few 
years  later,  being  considered  a  great  public  loss. 

Samuel,  the  subje6t  of  this  Note,  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College  in  1653,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Farmington,  Conneilicut,  in  1661.  He  be- 
came a  fellow  of  his  alma  mater,  and  was  appointed, 
with  three  others,  to  treat  with  New  Haven  Colony  in 
reference  to  a  union  with  Conne6ficut  Colony.  Eleven 
children,  of  whom  nine  were  sons,  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hooker.  It  is  probable  that  the  Thomas  Bucking- 
ham (born  1646)  whom  Mrs.  Hooker  married  a  few 
years  after  her  first  husband's  death,  was  also  a  clergy- 
man. 

552  '■'■An  old  memorandum  hook  of  Judge  John  Saffin.'^ 
The  late  Miss  Esther  Bernon  Carpenter,  some  years 
previously  to  her  death,  read  before  the  Rhode  Island 
Historical  Society  a  notable  paper  upon  this  memoran- 
dum book,  then  in  her  possession,  under  the  title  of 
"John  Saffin,  His  Book."  Miss  Carpenter  was  a  grand- 
daughter of  Mr.  Willet  Carpenter,  the  custodian  of  the 
book  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Updike's  writing,  in  1847.  ^^^ 
says  that  it  was  at  Bristol,  then  a  part  of  Plymouth 


246  Notes 

Colony, that  Saffin  wrote  the  note-book, — "a  revelation 
of  a  study  of  Puritan  manners  and  a  Puritan  mind." 
The  book  is  a  medley, —  maxims  from  William  Penn, 
formulas  relating  to  witchcraft,  the  hours  of  his  chil- 
dren's births,  colonial  data  in  abundance,  and  a  record 
of  a  blazing  star,  in  1 664,  "  sent  by  God  to  an  obscure 
world."  Sometimes  the  writer  bursts  into  verse  over 
these  occurrences.  New  England's  lamentable  fate,  and 
reprehensible  female  attire.  His  epitaph  upon  his  father- 
in-law  (given  by  Dr.  Parsons  in  his  essay,  cited  in  Note 
555)  begins: 

'•''Here  lies  grand  Willet,  zuhose  good  name 
Did  mount  upon  the  wings  offame.^^ 

Another  still  more  ambitious  example  of  John  Baffin's 
muse,  adduced  by  the  same  writer,  is  an  ^'Epitaph  on 
that  eminent  and  truly  pious  matron,  Mrs.  Mary  Wil- 
let," containing  the  following  lines  : 

'•'•Tea,  Venus,  Pallas,  Diana  and  the  Graces 
Compared  with  her  should  all  have  lost  their  places.'''' 

Miss  Carpenter  goes  on  to  remark:  "There  are  deep 
self-revealings  in  this  book.  In  his  home  life  he  merits 
our  regard,  however  obscured  by  the  stir  of  his  cen- 
tury. It  lets  in  light  on  an  obscure  period  of  our  his- 
tory. Saffin  was  the  poet-laureate  of  his  household  queen. 
The  pathos  of  his  lines  on  his  wife's  death  is  exhaust- 
less."  John  Saffin,  son  of  Simon  Saffin,  of  Exeter,  Eng- 
land, was  born  in  that  country.  Hewas  judge  of  the  supe- 
rior court  of  Massachusetts  from  1701  to  1703.  His 
first  wife  was  Martha,  daughter  of  Captain  Thomas 
Willet,  first  mayor  of  the  city  of  New  York.  Mr.  Saffin 
died  at  Bristol,  Rhode  Island,  July  29,  1710. 

^STi    "^^'^^^  '^'^^  ^  daughter  of  John  Brown.*^ 

John  Brown  is  called,  at  the  time  of  his  daughter's  mar- 
riage, in  1636,  "a  prom'inant  man  in  Plymouth."  It  is 
not  improbable  that  Mr.  Brown  united  with  his  son-in- 
law,  Willet,  and  other  leading  men  of  Plymouth,  in 
1 66 1,  in  the  purchase  of  land  from  the  Indians,  called 
"Rehoboth  North  Purchase,"  including  the  present 
towns  of  Attleborough,  Massachusetts,  and  Cumber- 


Notes  247 

land,  Rhode  Island.  In  any  case  he  appears  to  have  re- 
moved to  that  part  of  Rehoboth  afterwards  set  apart  as 
Sw^ansea,  Massachusetts,  inasmuch  as  it  is  recorded  be- 
low, in  the  text,  that  Mrs.  Mary  Willet"was  buried 
near  her  father,  John  Brown,  upon  a  little  hill  upon 
their  land  in  Swansea." 

554    ''Sarahr 

Sarah  Willet  (born  1643;  died  June  13,  1665)  is  in- 
teresting on  account  of  having  married  John  Eliot,  a  son 
of  the  Apostle  of  the  Indians  and  Ann  (or  Hanna)  Mum- 
ford, his  "dear, faithful,  pious,  prudent,  prayerful  wife," 
as  he  himself  styled  her,  at  her  funeral.  Of  the  five  sons 
born  to  John  and  Hanna,  only  one,  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Eliot,  "a  burning  and  shining  light,"  survived  them. 
Their  son  John  (born  1636)  saw  his  young  wife,  Sarah 
Willet,  pass  away  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  while 
he  himself  followed  her  three  years  later,  and  more  than 
a  score  of  years  before  the  death  of  his  father.  John  and 
Sarah  had  one  daughter,  Sarah,  born  in  1662,  her  mother 
being  then  at  the  age  of  eighteen  or  nineteen  years. 

c^f^c^    ^'■Captain  'Thomas  Willet  .  .  .  was  buried  in  the 
same  placed 

In  the  autumn  of  1886,  the  late  Dr.  Charles  W.  Par- 
sons read,  before  the  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society, 
an  interesting  and  important  paper  upon  his  ancestor, 
"The  First  Mayor  of  New  York  City,  Thomas  Wil- 
lett,"  afterwards  printed  in  the  Magazine  of  American 
History  for  March,  1887.  Among  other  valuable  items 
there  are  given  in  it  "tracings"  from  Captain  Wil- 
let's  head-stone  and  foot-stone  standing  in  what  is  now 
called  East  Providence,  differing  somewhat  from  the 
copy  of  these  inscriptions  presented  in  the  extract  from 
Dr.  Stiles's  account  of  The  "Judges  of  Charles  /,  in  the 
text.  The  head-stone  is  inscribed  as  follows: 

1674. 

HERE  LIES  YE  BODY 

OF  YE  WOR  THOMAS 

WILLETT  ESQ  WHO  DIED 

AUGUST  YE  4.TH  IN  YE  64TH 

YEAR  OF  HIS  AGE  ANNO 


248  Notes 

The  foot-stone  contains  the  followinc 


WHO  WAS  THE 
FIRST  MAYOR 

OF  NEW  YORK 

&  TWICE  DID 

SUSTAINE  YT  PLACE. 


It  will  be  noticed  that  the  "  Wor"  of  this  tracing  has 
been  extended  to  "Worthy"  by  Dr.  Stiles.  As  John 
Saffin,  who  may  have  prepared  this  inscription  and  who 
certainly  wrote  a  more  extended  epitaph  on  his  fa- 
ther-in-law, headed  the  latter  "  Worshipful  Thomas 
Willett,  Esquire,"  it  is  perhaps  more  likely  that  the  lat- 
ter epithet  is  the  one  signified  by  the  abbreviation.  It 
is  also  worthy  of  attention  that  Dr.  Parsons  gives  the 
double  letter  at  the  end  of  the  proper  name  although  Dr. 
MacSparran,  in  his  Diary ^  spells  it  many  times  Willet 
and  Mr.  Updike  follows  the  same  custom,  no  doubt  the 
prevailing  form  in  their  times.  The  "anno,"  at  the  foot 
of  the  head-stone,  was  probably  intended  to  be  followed 
by  /<57^,  which  the  introduction  of  the  same  date  at 
the  top  rendered  unnecessary.  Dr.  Parsons  remarks  that 
he  knows  no  good  reason  for  questioning  the  Willet 
pedigree,  which  assigns  the  Rev.  Andrew  Willet,  proc- 
tor of  Cambridge  College,  1585,  and  prebend  of  Ely 
Cathedral,  1597,  as  ^^^^  ^^  chaplain  to  Prince  Henry, 
as  the  father,  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Willet  (died  1597), 
sub-almoner  to  Edward  VI,  and  prebend  of  Ely,  as  the 
grandfather,  of  Thomas  Willet,  of  Plymouth  and  New 
York.  In  1647-8  Willet  was  appointed  captain  of  the 
military  company  at  Plymouth,  and  bore  that  title  ever 
after. 

556    ''John  Saffinr 

The  name  of  Saffin  is  supposed  to  be  of  Norman  ori- 
gin. John  Saffin,  when  only  about  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  attained  the  position  of  a  sele£lman  in  the  town 
of  Scituate,  Massachusetts,  where  he  is  said  to  have 
spent  about  ten  years.  Miss  Carpenter  testifies  that 
later  in  life  "Saffin  was  noted  for  self-will  rather  than 
strength  of  character.  .  .  .  He  was  a  man  of  honest 
temper,  but  mingled  with  local  questions  some  of  the 


Notes  249 

gall  of  bitterness  of  heavier  matters.  ...  As  he  gradu- 
ally severed  himself  from  earlier  associations,  he  sank 
into  the  dregs  of  sullen  old  age."  Some  further  fails 
concerning  John  Saffin  may  be  found  in  Note  29. 

557  "Rebecca,  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  Lee  yof  Bristol" 
Miss  Carpenter  narrated,  in  her  paper  on  "John  Saf- 
fin, His  Book":  "The  third  time  (1688),  at  the  age  of 
56,  he  married  an  heiress."  The  first  regularly  settled 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Bristol  was  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Lee,  born  in  London,  in  1625,  and  at 
one  time  a  proctor  of  the  University  of  Oxford.  He 
was  a  man  of  learning  and  eloquence,  and  having  been 
induced  to  visit  the  town,  he  was  received  with  enthu- 
siasm. Being  possessed  of  an  independent  fortune,  he 
proceeded  at  once,  upon  entering  on  his  pastorate,  in 
1687,  to  build  himself  a  spacious  and  handsome  house. 
After  a  very  successful  and  harmonious  although  brief 
pastorate,  Mr.  Lee  resigned  his  post  in  1691,  and  re- 
turned with  his  family  to  the  Old  World.  It  being  a 
time  of  war,  he  was  seized  by  a  French  privateer  and 
died  a  prisoner  in  France  without  ever  reaching  Eng- 
land. 

558  ''Josiah  Flint r 

Esther  Willet  was  married  to  the  Rev.  Josiah  Flynt 
(or  Flint),  of  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  January  24, 
1672,  subsequently  to  the  date  of  her  father's  will,  al- 
though two  or  three  years  before  his  death.  Her  grand- 
daughter, Dorothy  Quincy,  was  the  "  Dorothy  Q^"  of 
Dr.  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes's  poem,  being  the  great- 
grandmother  of  the  poet.  A  son  of  Mrs.  Flynt,  Henry, 
born  in  1675,  was  for  forty-five  years  a  tutor  in  Har- 
vard College.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  he  is  the  same 
Henry  Flynt  who  is  spoken  of  as  having  held  Con- 
gregational services  for  a  short  time  in  Kingstown, 
about  the  year  1700.  (See  Notes  38,  105,  and  550.) 

559  "Mary  Taylor." 

Mrs.  Mary  (Taylor)  Willet  was  born  in  1678,  being 
fifteen  years  the  senior  of  herhusband.  She  died  in  1 769, 


250  Notes 

the  record  in  the  Parish  Register  being:  "16'"^  April 
Mr.  F.  visited  old  Mrs.  Willet,  who  was  taken  111  with  an 
apoplexy;  Mr.F.  prayed  with  her,  Soon  after  which  she 
Died.  18'''  on  Tuesday  she  was  Buried,  and  a  Funeral 
Sermon  Preached  by  Mr.  F.,  after  her  Interment,  at  the 
Esquire's  House."  A  notice  of  her  niece  and  name- 
sake, who  became  Mrs.  John  Gardiner,  may  be  found  in 
Note  210.  Mrs.  Willet  is  mentioned  with  interest  by 
Dr.  MacSparran,  in  his  Diary. 

560   '■^Francis  Carpenter^  his  nephew ^ 

It  may  appear  unjust  that  Colonel  Francis  Willet  ig- 
nored the  provision  of  his  brother  Thomas's  will,  be- 
queathing his  half  of  the  Boston  Neck  estate  to  their 
nephews,  Willet  Carpenter  (born  17 14)  and  William 
Pease  (after  the  death  of  Francis,  in  case  he  died  child- 
less), and  gave  the  whole  to  his  nephew,  Francis  Car- 
penter. But  it  must  be  noted  that  the  nephew,  Willet 
Carpenter,  whom  Thomas  Willet  had  in  view,had  been 
dead  more  than  forty  years  when  Colonel  Willet  died, 
and  that  the  second  nephew,  Willet  Carpenter,  not 
born  until  ten  or  eleven  years  after  the  will  of  his  uncle 
Thomas  had  been  made  and  proved,  could  not  have  been 
the  one  intended.  As  more  than  fifty  years  had  passed 
away  between  the  death  of  Thomas  Willet  and  that  of 
his  brother  Francis,  it  is  also  by  no  means  certain  that 
William  Pease,  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  seven  children 
and  the  other  legatee,  was  yet  alive,  or  rather  it  is  cer- 
tain that,  had  he  been  alive,  no  question  would  have 
arisen  as  to  his  share  of  the  estate.  In  view  of  the  fact 
that,  although  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  elapsed 
after  Colonel  Willet's  death  before  litigation  in  respe£t 
to  the  property  ceased,  Francis  Carpenter  was  finally 
allowed  undisputed  possession,  it  is  clear  that  the  Colo- 
nel's right  of  disposition  was  recognized  by  the  court. 
So  much  is  necessary  in  order  to  remove  from  the  me- 
mory of  Francis  Carpenter  what  has  sometimes  appeared 
a  blot, — the  charge  of  dishonourably  holding  the  whole 
estate. 


Notes  25T 

561  "Rev.  James  H.  Carpenter.^* 

James  Helme  Carpenter  was  for  many  years  a  re- 
spe6led  and  beloved  presbyter  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
in  Rhode  Island,  and  was  father  of  the  late  Miss  Esther 
Bernon  Carpenter,  the  well-known  writer.  He  inherited 
the  Boston  Neck  property  from  his  father,  Willet  Car- 
penter, leaving  it  at  his  death  to  his  wife  and  daugh- 
ters. A  chapel  built  as  a  memorial  of  Miss  Carpenter 
stands  upon  the  place  (now  known  as  Saunderstown), 
on  a  lot  given  by  her  during  her  lifetime. 

562  "Samuel,  a  son  of  Captain  Thomas  Willet. ^^ 
Samuel,  the  youngestof  the  thirteen  children  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  Willet,  although  said  to  be  sheriff  of  Queen's 
County,  New  York,  is  but  little  mentioned  in  the  re- 
cords. Austin  {Genealogical  DiSiionary  of  Rhode  Island., 
p.  430)  remarks:  "The  possibility  is  admitted  that  the 
children,  usually  ascribed  to  him,  may  have  been  de- 
scendants instead  of  Thomas  Willet,  of  Flushing,  who 
married,  1643,  September  ist,  Sarah  Cornell."  In  that 
case,  Marinus  Willet  would  not  be,  as  is  commonly  as- 
serted, Samuel's  grandson.  The  Thomas  Willet  thus  al- 
luded to  by  Mr.  Austin  appeared  at  New  Amsterdam,  in 
1643,  from  Bristol,  England,  aged  twenty-two  years, be- 
ing married  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  to  Sarah 
Cornell,  as  stated,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  William 
and  Thomas.  In  1645,  he  had  a  lot  between  Stone  and 
Pearl  streets.  His  widow,  in  November,  1647,  iriarried 
Charles  Bridges. 

563  "Colonel  Marinus  Willet.''' 

Marinus  Willet  (or  Willett),  soldier,  was  born  in  Ja- 
maica, Long  Island,  July  31,  1740,  and  died  in  New 
York  city,  August  22,  1830.  He  a6led  as  lieutenant  at 
Ticonderoga  in  1758,  and  as  captain  in  Montgomery's 
expedition  against  Canada.  After  serving  with  credit  dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  War  under  General  Washington 
and  General  Sullivan,  he  commanded,  from  1 780  to  the 
end  of  the  war,  the  forces  in  the  Mohawk  Valley.  In 
1807,  he  was  made  mayor  of  New  York  city.  In  the 


252  Notes 

year  after  Colonel  Willet's  death,  there  was  published, in 
New  York,  A  Narrative  of  the  Military  ASlions  of  Colo- 
nel Marinus  Willett^  prepared  chiefly  from  his  manu- 
script journals,  by  his  son,  William  Marinus  Willett. 

564   ''Hopewelir 

The  "Kingston  depot"  referred  to  in  the  text  is  the 
old  one,  a  half  mile  farther  north  than  the  present  one. 
Hopewell  lies  a  short  distance  to  the  west  of  the  new 
station.  The  house  has  now  (1907)  entirely  gone  to  de- 
cay and  disappeared,  nothing  but  a  ruinous  chimney  and 
the  ancient  shade  trees  marking  the  spot.  Mr.  Robinson 
mentions  a  second  wife,  Nanny  Jackson,  in  his  will,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  1778,  during  his  residence  at 
Hopewell,  his  first  wife  having  been  alive  at  the  time  of 
his  removal  to  Narragansett. 

K^di^    ^'^ 'These  colleSlions  . . .  are  now  nearly  all  lost^ 

There  is  a  full  inventory  of  Mr.  Robinson's  library  filed 
in  conne6lion  with  the  settlement  of  his  estate.  It  con- 
tained many  French  books,  which  his  father-in-law, 
Augustus  Lucas,  had  brought  from  his  native  land, 
among  them  a  Huguenot  Bible.  One  of  the  treasures  of 
the  collection  was  a  copy  of  the  rare  volume,  said  to 
have  been  composed  by  King  Charles  I,  Eikon  Basi- 
like^  embodying  "the  celebrated  story  of  Miss  Villers 
(or  Villiers), —  an  apparition  case,  with  the  proofs." 
The  authorship  of  Eikon  Baillike  is  attributed  also  to 
Bishop  Gauden. 

566    "This  learned^  worthy^  and  Christian  man^ 

There  will  be  found  a  full  account  of  Mr.  Robinson 
in  Updike's  Memoirs  of  the  Rhode  hlayid  Bar^  pp.  234- 
45.  The  following  letter  to  Daniel  Updike,  when  he 
was  about  twenty  and  when  Mr.  Robinson,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two,  had  been  incarcerated  in  King's  County 
jail  on  a  charge  of  professing  tory  sentiments,  illustrates 
his  high  Christian  charaCter  and  is  otherwise  not  with- 
out interest.  It  is  written  in  an  extremely  elegant  and 
distinguished  hand, — a  model  of  eighteenth  century 
care  and  yet  done  without  apparent  effbrt.  All  his  pa- 


Notes  253 

pers  were  thus  written.  The  circular  Delft  inkstand, 
formerly  at  Hopewell  Lodge,  and  in  which  Mr.  Robin- 
son dipped  his  pen  when  composing  his  epistles,  was  for 
many  years  on  the  writing-desk  of  Mr.  Wilkins  Up- 
dike, and  is  now  the  property  of  Daniel  Berkeley  Up- 
dike. It  is  of  circular  form,  something  like  the  round 
pewter  inkstands  still  seen  in  old-fashioned  English 
counting-houses.  The  decorations  are  painted  on  it  in 
a  purplish  brown,  and  around  the  central  ink-well  are 
receptacles  for  quill  pens.  It  measures  about  five  inches 
in  diameter. 

Daniel  Updike  (afterwards  the  second  attorney-gen- 
eral of  the  name)  was,  no  doubt,  a  favourite  with  Mr. 
Robinson,  having,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  spent  a  con- 
siderable part  of  the  summer  of  1778  with  him  on  a  long 
visit  at  Hopewell. 

Little  Rest  Hill^ 

January  8,  1 78 1 
D"^  Daniel! 

Your  affectionate  Letter  of  5*''  Curr'  indicates  your  re- 
gard for  a  quondam  Friend;  who  is  much  pleas'd  with 
so  kind  a  memorial. 

My  prefent  Confinement  here  is  certainly  difagree- 
able;  but  when  I  refle6l  that  the  hand  of  Providence 
dire6led  the  Stroke,  I  am  all  fubmifsion.  I  trufl  it  is  for 
the  beft ;  &  to  anfwer  fome  wife  ends  of  Our  Heavenly 
Father  here.  Altho'  I  have  not  had  Justice  from  a  hu- 
man Judicatory,  yet  I  am  perfe6tly  convinc'd  I  ihall 
have  Juftice  from  the  Great  Judge  of  all  men;  there- 
fore he  will  bring  my  Affairs  to  a  happy  Ifsue,  in  his 
own  due  time;  Til  then  I  ought  to  wait. —  Epi6letus 
directs  us  to  bear  ii  forbear.  Our  Savior  teaches  us  to 
wait  God's  time  &  he  will  deliver  us  out  of  all  our  af- 
flictions, when  he  thinks  best.  I  ftrongly  believe  my  de- 
liverance is  not  far  off.  Philofophy  alone  is  too  flender 
diet  for  a  Chriftian  Soul  to  feed  upon  — This  Event  I 
look  upon  as  one  of  the  many  trials  I  was  born  to; — 
this  is  a  World  of  Temptation  or  Trials  else  Our  blefsed 
Saviour  would  not  have  been  so  very  anxious  for  our 
Comfort,  in  making  the  Confideration  thereof  so  great 


254  Notes 

a  part  of  his  Divine  Form  of  Prayer  (sc.)  "  lead  us  not 
into  Temptation";  therefore  if  we  by  the  afsiftance 
of  Heaven  keep  clear  of  that,  we  (hall  then  moft  cer- 
tainly avoid  the  bad  Consequences  of  falling  into  Evil. 
Letthefe  Reflexions  be  admonitionstoyour/z^/?/  Heart; 
think  before  you  fpeak  or  a61:,  ffor  after-tho't  may  elfe 
come  too  late.  You  know  my  old  maxim  Praestat  Cau- 
tela  quam  niedela^  one  grain  of  Caution  is  worth  a  pound 
of  medicine. — Study  much;  be  careful  in  your  goings 
over  the  thorny  paths  of  Life ;  let  Wisdom  fteer  you, 
difcretion  &  Underftanding  be  your  Handmaids  thro' 
this  World.  Keep  therefore  out  of  the  Courts  of  Law, 
efpecially  in  this  pitiful  State;  Your  Grandfather  if  alive 
would  caution  you  ag^'  our  Courts.  He  has  often  told  me 
in  Converfation  it  was  Poifon  tohi?n — it  will  moft  likely 
circulate  its  Venom  or  poifon  through  your  Soul  as  well 
as  Body.  You  converfe  with  the  Devil  &  his  Works  in 
the  Bufy  World ; — but  with  God  &  his  Works  in  the 
Fields  &  meadows.  Leave  not  then  thofe  fine  Ones 
you  are  born  to,  for  to  bufy  your  self  all  your . . .  daies 
foolishly  &  madly  in  the  Quarrels  of  Fools  &  Knaves — 
Vi61:ims  fuitable  for  fuch  unhallowed  Altars.  Some  per- 
fons  muft  do  fo  for  Bread,  but  that's  not  your  Cafe. 
May  God  &  your  Parents  dired:  you.  Excufe  this  for- 
wardnefs  of 

D^  Daniel 

Your  afFe61:ionate  Friend 

M^^  Robinson 
Excufe  this  plaguy  greazy  paper.  My  Love  to  all  at 
Home  when  you  fee  them. 

M"  Dan^  Updike 

567    '■'■  Lodowick  Updike." 

The  earlier  teacher  of  young  Updike,  from  whom 
he  learned  the  rudiments  and  the  languages,  was  John 
Scott,  an  Englishman  and  a  fine  scholar.  Dr.  Mac- 
Sparran  repeatedly  mentions,  in  his  Diary,,  the  son  of 
his  principal  parishioner,  with  apparent  affe6lion  and 
esteem.  On  July  25,  1743,  when  Lodowick  had  just 
completed  his  eighteenth  year,  the  Doctor  records:  "In 


Notes  255 

the  afternoon,  I  visited  y"  young  Squire,  who  is  sick 
at  North  Kingstown, and  sent  for  me.  1  prayed  with  him 
and  gave  him  some  dire6lions";  and  again,  July  23, 
1745,  "Jn"  Cole  &  Lodowick  Updike  called  to  see 
me,  in  their  way  from  Boston."  The  social  disposition 
of  Mr.  Updike,  in  his  younger  days,  is  shown  by  his 
joining  the  "Scotch  Club,"  consisting  of  the  choicest 
spirits  of  those  of  about  his  own  age  in  Newport,  Cap- 
tain Keith,  Ferguson,  Augustus  Johnston,''^"  Dudley, 
Dr.  William  Hunter,  Nicholas  Lechmere,""^"  and  Ed- 
ward Cole.'^°'"^  Dr.  Hunter  was  a  Scottish  physician, 
settled  in  Newport,  where  he  had  an  exceedingly  lu- 
crative practice.  An  amusing  and  enlightening  glimpse 
at  the  manner  in  which  the  best  pra6litioners  exercised 
their  profession,  in  the  period  before  the  American  Revo- 
lution, is  afforded  by  a  letter  from  Dr.  William  Hun- 
ter to  his  friend,  Mr.  Lodowick  Updike,  at  Wickford, 
on  the  occasion  of  the  illness  of  his  eldest  son,  Daniel, 
then  thirteen  years  of  age.  A  portion  of  this  letter  was 
printed,  more  than  twenty  years  ago,  in  the  Boston  Medi- 
cal and  Surgical  'Journal^  and  is  as  follows: 

Newport^  June  16''',  1774 
Dear  Sir:  As  you  find  the  musk  agrees  better  with 
your  son  than  the  Bolusses,  I  have  sent  you  six  doses 
more,  one  of  which  you  may  give  him  in  strong  Va- 
lerian Tea  every  six  hours,  as  formerly.  The  musk 
will  now  have  a  better  effe£t  upon  him  than  if  he  had 
been  taking  it  all  this  time,  a  short  interval  from  the 
use  of  it  will  make  it  more  powerfull,  and  the  good 
effe6ts  of  it  will  soon  be  more  evident.  I  have  also  sent 
you  nine  more  of  the  Foetid  Bolusses, which  you  may 
give  him  as  formerly  in  the  place  of  the  musk.  Lest 
you  should  be  out  of  Valerian,  I  have  sent  you  more. 
You  may  let  him  drink  plentifully  of  this  strong  Va- 
lerian Tea  for  his  Common  drink  with  wine  in  it  al- 
ways. I  cannot  think  he  will  require  any  more  Blis- 
tering, especially  as  his  pulse  has  become  more  full. . . . 
By  the  time  he  has  taken  the  powders  and  bolusses 
now  sent,  I  am  sure  he  will  be  able  to  make  use  of  the 
Bark  in  some  form.  If  he  cannot  take  it  in  powder. 


256  Notes 

which  I  would  prefer  to  every  other  way  of  giving  it, 
you  must  let  him  take  it  in  strong  Decoction  with  wine 
added  to  it.  An  ounce  of  the  bark  boiled  in  three  gills 
of  water  into  a  gill  and  a  half,  then  strain  it  and  add  to 
it  one  third  part  more  of  good  Madeira  wine,  two  table- 
spoonfulls  of  which  you  may  give  him  every  two  hours, 
except  when  asleep. . .  .  The  account  you  give  of  your 
son  when  he  first  awakes  is  common  to  all  much  re- 
duced or  exhausted  with  a  fever  such  as  his  has  been. 
That  crying  out,  when  he  first  awakes,  is  a  sure  symp- 
tom that  he  is  yet  in  a  degree  of  Idiotism,  or  that  his 
Brain  is  not  entirely  freed.  Be  not  uneasy  about  his 
senses,  they  will  recover  altho'  it  will  be  very  slow, 
but  they  will  return  in  proportion  to  his  bodyly  strength, 
which  will  also  be  very  slow,  with  the  greatest  care. 
The  Bunches  like  as  if  he  had  been  stroked  with  Net- 
tles will  be  salutary,  if  they  are  not  brought  on  by  keep- 
ing him  too  hot  with  bed  Cloths,  which,  I  think,  has 
not  been  the  case,  as  I  early  observed  to  you  that  keep- 
ing him  too  warm  would  be  hurtful  to  him 
I  am,  Dear  Sir,  yours  sincerely, 

W^"  Hunter 

It  speaks,  well  for  the  Doctor's  treatment  that  the  lad 
lived  to  pass  his  eightieth  birthday.  Mr.  Updike  was 
profoundly  interested  in  the  prosperity  of  St.  Paul's 
Church.  In  1785,  we  find  him  drawing  up  a  subscrip- 
tion for  the  repair  of  the  parsonage  house, —  Dr.  Mac- 
Sparran's  old  residence, — to  make  it  suitable  for  a  min- 
ister. Towards  the  two  hundred  dollars  needed  for  the 
purpose,  he  headed  the  paper  with  the  sum  of  thirty 
dollars,  the  largest  single  gift.  He  was  also  exceedingly 
a6live  in  the  removal  of  the  even  then  ancient  Narra- 
gansett  Church,  in  1800,  to  Wickford,  where  alone 
he  perceived  that  it  could  be  supported  and  rendered 
useful.  The  remark  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Warren,  in  his  fu- 
neral sermon,  that  the  parish  was  indebted  to  Mr.  Up- 
dike for  the  eren'ion  of  a  church  in  that  village,  was  true 
in  spirit,  as  he  caused  the  structure  to  be  entirely  rebuilt, 
but  not  absolutely  so  in  letter,  inasmuch  as  it  had  stood 
on  the  "  old  platform,"  five  miles  to  the  south,  for  nearly 


Notes  257 

a  century.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that,  by  reason  of  his 
high  character  and  social  prominence,  as  a  great  landed 
proprietor  and  representative  of  an  honoured  colonial 
family,  Lodowick  Updike  was  regarded,  in  his  time,  as 
one  of  the  most  eminent  citizens  of  Rhode  Island.  Yet 
he  never  permitted  himself  to  be  placed  in  any  office  of 
either  the  town  or  the  State.  He  was  a  liberal  enter- 
tainer and  became  widely  noted  for  his  hospitality, 
his  doors  being  always  open  to  the  passing  traveller  of 
respe6lability,  in  an  age  when  it  was  deemed  rather 
low-lived  to  lodge  at  a  tavern.  A  hint  at  the  genial  and 
dignified  life  which  Mr.  Updike  led  upon  his  ancestral 
estate,  surrounded  by  his  books  and  his  friends,  is  given 
in  a  somewhat  formal  but  studiedly  civil  communica- 
tion which  he  wrote  in  his  seventy-ninth  year,  in  reply 
to  a  letter  of  a  certain  M.  Carpentier,  who  had  been 
giving  French  lessons  to  his  youngest  son,  Wilkins, 
then  about  nineteen  years  of  age.  It  is  as  follows: 

S's  Castle,  Aug'  8"'  1803 
Dear  Sir  :  The  sentiments  of  Your  kind  Letter  breathe 
so  great  marks  of  Friendship  that  I  don't  doubt  their 
Sincerity,  happy  if  I  could  exprefs  myself  in  so  happy 
a  strain.  But  be  assured  I  think  myself  doubly  oblidged 
to  You  for  Your  Friendship  expressed  to  me  &  kind- 
nefs  to  my  Son  and  I  hope  he  will  be  able.  One  Day, 
in  the  French  Language  gratefully  to  acknowledge  your 
Politenefs  &  attention.  In  the  [mean!  time  be  assured 
I  shall  take  every  opportunity  to  exprefs  my  attachment 
&  Friendship  to  M'  Carpentier  and  should  with  plea- 
sure see  Him  at  Smith's  Castle,  when  agreeable. 
I  am,  D"^  S',  with  sincerity,  Your  most  H.  S', 

L.  Updike 

568    "■'■The  Rev.  Mr.  Warren.'^ 

A  brief  notice  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Warren,  the  seventh 
minister  of  St.  Paul's  Parish,  will  be  found  in  its  pro- 
per place,  below,  in  the  text.  An  extract  from  Mr. 
Warren's  sermon,  on  the  occasion  of  Lodowick  Up- 
dike's death,  preached  eighteen  days  afterwards,  is  ex- 


258  Notes 

tant,  apparently  in  the  handwriting  of  the  preacher. 
It  is  as  follows : 

"  Extract  :  To  the  favour  of  this  Benevolent  Being 
our  Dear  departed  Brother,  Lodowick  Updike  Esquire 
is  undoubtedly  entitled.  For  he,  whose  society  was  so 
much  courted  by  the  wise  &  good  here  below,  must  be 
fitted  for  the  society  of  Saints  and  glorified  spirits  above. 
To  give  an  exa6i:  delineation  of  his  chara6ler,  the  time 
allowed  will  not  permit.  An  attempt  to  display  its  most 
striking  features  must  suffice.  [Then  follow  the  pas- 
sages introduced  into  the  text.]  Text — Hebrews  9'*^ 
Chap.  &  27  verse, — '//  is  appointed  unto  men  once  to 
die' — Preached  in  St.  Paul's  Church  situated  in  Up- 
dike's new  town  June  24,  1804." 

569  '■^'The  late  William  Goddard." 

Mr.  William  Goddard  was  a  first  cousin  to  Lodowick 
Updike,  his  mother,  Sarah  Goddard,  being  a  sister  of 
the  Honourable  Daniel  Updike,  of  Newport  and  North 
Kingstown.  In  a  letter  of  the  date  of  June  12,  1804, 
to  Lodowick  Updike,  junior,  Mr.  Goddard  remarked, 
in  view  of  the  recent  death  of  his  cousin :  "  The  loss 
of  such  an  invaluable  Parent,  Friend  and  Counsellor, 
*wise,  good  and  affe6lionate,'  can  only  be  felt  but  not 
described." 

570  ^^Entombed  among  his  venerable  ancestors^ 

The  inscription  upon  the  memorial  stone  of  Mr.  Lo- 
dowick Updike,  in  the  Updike  burial  ground,  is  as 
follows : 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

LODOWICK  UPDIKE,  ESQ., 

WHO  DIED  JUNE  6th,  1804, 

IN  THE  80TH  YEAR  OF  HIS 

AGE. 

LIGHT  BE  THE  TURF,  GOOD  SENIOR,  ON  THY  BREAST 
AND  TRANQUIL  AS  THY  MIND  SHALL  BE  THY  REST. 

The  body  of  Richard  Smith,  senior,  is  burled  in  this 
ground,  where  the  family  has  been  interred  continu- 
ously since  his  day. 


Notes  259 

571  ^'■She  . . .  died  at  North  Kingstown.'" 

The  following  is  inscribed  upon  the  grave-stoneof  Mrs. 
Lodowick  Updike,  in  the  Updike  burial  ground: 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

MRS.  ABIGAIL  UPDIKE 

WHO  DEPARTED  THIS  LIFE  ON  THE 

21ST  DAY  OF  MAY  A.D.  1826 

IN  THE  86th  YEAR  OF  HER  AGE. 

DISTINGUISHED  FOR  HER  AMIABLE 

DISPOSITION, 

BENEVOLENCE  AND  PIETY. 

572  ^^T'hey  left  eleven  children^ 

Although  two  of  these  children  died  in  middle  life,  the 
average  age  of  the  eleven,  at  death,  was  over  eighty 
years, five  of  them  having  passed  ninety. Ofthe  six  sons, 
no  one  was  less  than  five  feet  nine  inches  in  height 
(without  shoes),  and  their  average  stature  was  five  feet 
ten  inches,  Wilkins,  the  youngest,  being  the  tallest, 
(i)  Daniel  Updike  (born  1761)  is  noticed  below,  in  the 
text,  under  an  entry  of  November,  1 761  (Vol.  ii.  p.  24). 

(2)  James  Updike  was  born  at  North  Kingstown, 
May  29,  1763,  and  died  at  Wickford,  December  8, 
1855.  He  never  married,  living  by  himself  in  his  own 
house  on  Fowler  Street.  He  was  appointed  major  in 
1 794,  but  was  known  as  General  Updike  for  all  the  lat- 
ter portion  of  his  life.  By  his  will,  he  left  three  thousand 
dollars  to  St.  Paul's  Church  for  its  own  use. 

(3)  Anstis  Updike  was  born  at  North  Kingstown,  June 
20,  1765,  married  William  Lee,  September  25,  181 1, 
and  died  at  Wickford,  July  1 1,  1864.  Mrs.  Lee  was  a 
woman  of  strong  personality.  Surviving  until  her  one 
hundredth  year,  her  death  even  then  was  the  result  of 
an  accident.  Apparently  with  a  premonition  of  her  lon- 
gevity, on  selling  a  piece  of  real  estate  near  the  Arcade 
in  Providence  to  Mr.  Alexander  Duncan,  when  she  was 
about  seventy  years  of  age,  she  readily  accepted  the  of- 
fered privilege  of  receiving  the  consideration  for  it  in  the 
form  of  an  annuity,  thereby  deriving,  by  reason  of  her 
long  survival,  great  advantage.  Mrs.  Lee  had  no  children. 
Upon  her  death  she  left  a  legacy  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  as 


26o  Notes 

well  as  a  marble-topped  table,  imported  from  Europe 
more  than  a  century  before,  and  once  belonging  to  her  fa- 
ther, for  use  as  an  altar-table.  The  slab  has  since  been 
introduced,  with  a  suitable  inscription,  into  the  top  of 
the  present  altar.  A  sprightly  and  entertaining  account 
of  a  visit  to  Hartford  with  her  brother  Daniel,  in  1 79 1 , 
was  written  by  Mrs.  Lee  when  in  her  ninetieth  year,  and 
will  be  found  in  Appendix  F. 

(4)  Mary  Updike  was  born  at  North  Kingstown, 
July  20, 1 767, married  Captain  Nathaniel  Munday,and 
died  August  26,  1842.  Mrs.  Munday  had  no  children. 

(5)  Abigail  Updike  was  born  at  North  Kingstown, 
June  10,  1769,  married  Joseph  Reynolds  of  Exeter 
about  1800,  and  died  December  19,  1862.  Mrs.  Rey- 
nolds was  survived  by  two  sons  and  several  grandchil- 
dren. She  left  a  fragrant  memory  of  uncommon  gentle- 
ness and  saintliness.  In  1874,  her  son,  the  late  Edwin 
Halsey  Reynolds,  placed  a  chancel  window  in  her  me- 
mory in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Wickford. 

(6)  Sarah  Updike  was  born  at  North  Kingstown,  June 
10,1771,  married  David  Hagan,and  died  May  6, 1850. 
Her  son,  D.  Updike  Hagan  (born  1 809),  lived  at  Crans- 
ton in  the  vicinity  of  Providence  until  within  a  few 
years,  and  left  descendants. 

(7)  Lydia  Updike  was  born  at  North  Kingstown, 
April  29,  1772,  married  Frederic  Crary,  by  whom  she 
had  several  children,  and  died  at  Middleport,  Ohio, 
May  2,  1866. 

(8)  Lodowick  Updike,  junior,  was  born  at  North 
Kingstown,  August  15, 1 777, and  married Rhoda Baker, 
by  whom  he  had  a  son  and  a  daughter,  both  dying  un- 
married. He  was  a  warden  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Wick- 
ford, in  1807.  Mr.  Updike  appears  to  have  been  much 
inclined  to  change  of  residence,  and  we  hear  of  him  at 
different  periods  in  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Havana, 
and  Brazil.  He  is  believed  to  have  been  at  one  period 
in  business  in  New  York,  where  he  is  said  to  have  died 
at  an  uncertain  date. 

(9)  Alfred  Updike  was  born  at  North  Kingstown,  Sep- 
tember 13, 1 7 79,  married  Dorcas  Eldred  Reynolds,  and 


Notes  261 

died  April  25,  1869,  being  known  as  Captain  Updike. 
He  had  no  children.  His  residence  was  on  the  south 
side  of  Main  Street,  Wickford,  a  few  rods  west  of 
Bridge  Street. 

(10)  Gilbert  Updike  was  born  at  North  Kingstown, 
September  8,  1781,  married  Hannah  Dennis,  of  New- 
port, by  whom  he  had  a  son  and  a  daughter,  and  re- 
moved to  the  West,  where  he  died, 
(i  i)  Wilkins  Updike  (born  1784)  is  treated  at  the  be- 
ginning of  this  book.  All  the  above  dates  of  birth  are 
taken  from  a  fine  old  Latin  family  Bible  of  1607,  the 
hours,  for  horoscopes,  being  invariably  recorded.  This 
book  is  now  the  property  of  Daniel  Berkeley  Up- 
dike. 

573    '■'■Mr.  Carder  Hazard." 

Judge  Hazard  (born  August  ii,  1734;  died  November 
24,  1792)  was  the  second  son  of  Deputy  Governor 
George  and  Sarah  (Carder)  Hazard  and  the  sixth  suc- 
cessive child  born  to  them  on  a  Sunday.  From  1757, 
when  he  was  admitted  a  freeman,  until  1787,  when  he 
was  chosen  chief  justice,  "there  is,"  says  Mrs.  Rob- 
inson in  The  Ha-zard  Family  of  Rhode  Island  (^.  55), 
"scarcely  a  year  during  which  Carder  Hazard  is  not 
found  filling  some  position  of  trust  in  the  Colony,  as 

assistant,deputyorjudge With  justice  could  he  have 

written  after  his  name, '  Gentleman,'  . . .  but  he,  more 
in  keeping  with  the  modesty  of  his  charader,  writes 
^Yeoman.'  In  all  the  relations  of  his  domestic  life  he  was 
exceedingly  gentle  and  lovable.  In  personal  appearance 
he  was  tall  and  well  formed,  fair  in  complexion  and 
(tradition  says)  an  uncommonly  handsome  man."  The 
well-known  Major  George  Hazard,  of  Newport,  was 
a  brother  of  Judge  Hazard.  Carder  Hazard  married,  first, 
Alice  Hull,  by  whom  he  had  two  children.  By  his  second 
marriage,  to  his  first  cousin,  Alice  Hazard,  recorded  in 
the  text,  he  had  nine  children,  all  but  the  last  two  be- 
ing sons.  His  second  son,  George,  became  well  known 
as  a  physician  and  was  the  father  of  the  late  Edward 
Hull  Hazard,  Esq.  Mrs.  Hazard  was  a  worthy  help- 


262  Notes 

meet  of  her  husband,  whom  she  survived  but  a  few 
weeks.  It  speaks  well  for  her  stepson  that,  although  she 
had  seven  sons  of  her  own,  most  of  them  adults,  she 
commended  to  his  care  her  little  twin  daughters  of  twelve 
years, saying, "  I  only  ask  you  to  be  just  as  kind  to  them 
as  I  have  been  to  you." 

5  74  "  The  manufaSlurer  for  all  the  principal  families T 
In  Miss  Caroline  Hazard's  delightful  College  Tom  (pp. 
98-103),  there  is  a  pleasant  and  appreciative  reference 
to  Martin  Reed  as  "the  prince  of  weavers  of  the  old 
time."  "In  this  primitive  work-room,"  she  relates, "with 
its  few  hand  looms,  with  the  swift  shuttle  thrown  cease- 
lessly to  the  accompaniment  of  the  master's  voice,  not 
only  flannel,  striped  and  plain,  worsted,  tow-cloth  and 
linen  were  woven,  but  broadcloth  and  Caliminco"  The 
remark,  however,  that  "  Updike  calls  Martin  Reed  the 
first  manufacturer  in  Narragansett,  though  there  was  a 
much  earlier  establishment  of  a  woolen  industry,"  hardly 
seems  quite  justified  by  his  mere  statement,  in  the  text, 
that  Reed  "became,  in  a  few  years,  the  manufacturer 
for  all  the  principal  families  in  the  surrounding  counties, 
v>  ho  then  depended  almost  wholly  on  home  materials 
for  clothing  and  other  purposes."  But  this  is  only  a 
trifling  inadvertence,  in  comparison  with  the  charming 
picture  furnished,  by  Miss  Hazard,  of  the  days  when 
(where  now  the  whir  of  textile  machinery  so  largely 
abounds)  it  was  first  possible  to  declare  that  the 

'•'■shuttle  merrily 
Goes  fiashing  through  the  loomy 

J75    "Living  near  it  \the  ChHrch~\" 

Mr.  Reed  occupied  (probably  in  his  capacity  of  pre- 
centor or  in  that  of  parish  clerk)  the  cottage  upon  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  original  church  lot,  continuing 
in  it  until  after  the  removal  of  the  church  to  Wickford, 
when,  finally,  with  all  the  portion  of  the  land  next  to 
the  road  (a  right  of  way  to  the  church-yard  having  been 
reserved),  it  was  virtually  sold,  by  a  perpetual  lease  of 
nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  years,  to  a  private  per- 
son. At  the  time  of  the  dedication  of  the  MacSparran 


Notes  263 

monument, in  1869, the  little  building, then  occupied  by 
a  family,  was  kindly  offered  to  the  Bishop  and  other  clergy 
and  used  by  them  as  a  place  for  robing.  Small  as  was 
the  house  then,  there  were  indications  that  it  had  been 
added  to  since  it  was  first  occupied  by  Mr.  Reed,  a  cen- 
tury before.  At  a  later  time  the  cottage  was  abandoned, 
and  has  now  gone  to  utter  decay,  although  the  ruins  are 
still  visible. 

576  ^^Dr.  JVilliam  Smith.'" 

A  notice  of  Dr.  Smith,^"*^  the  fifth  minister  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Narragansett,  will  be  found,  below,  in  the  text 
(Vol.  ii.  p.  III). 

577  ^^The  Venite  was  first  chanted^ 

It  is  recorded  that  Dr.  Smith  himself  ailed  as  choir- 
master at  St.  Paul's,  instructing  in  chanting,  among 
others,  Martin  Reed  and  "Miss  A.  Updike,"  mean- 
ing, no  doubt.  Miss  Anstis,  who  was  then  little  more 
than  twenty  years  of  age  and  later  became  Mrs.  Lee, 
living  until  her  hundredth  year.  Metrical  psalmody  was 
Dr.  Smith's  pet  abhorrence,  and  he  seems  to  have  done 
what  he  could  to  discourage  its  use  in  Narragansett. 

578  '■'■Such  men  as  Colonel  Updike y 

Although  this  is  the  exa6t  form  of  language  used  in  the 
account  from  which  Mr.  Updike  took  the  statement  in 
the  text,  it  is  yet  evident  that  the  word  "Colonel"  is 
an  error.  The  well-known  Colonel  Daniel  Updike  died 
in  IJS?-)  thirty  years  before  Dr.  William  Smith  became 
redior  of  St.  Paul's,  Narragansett.  His  son,  Lodowick, 
sixty-five  years  old  at  the  date  of  Dr.  Smith's  depar- 
ture, may  have  been  the  one  to  whom  Bishop  Seabury's 
traditionary  remark  referred,  or  more  probably  his  grand- 
son, Daniel  Updike,  then  twenty-nine,  and  elefted 
attorney-general  of  Rhode  Island  that  same  year,  neither 
of  them,  however,  being  called  "  Colonel."  The  parish 
records  during  Dr.  Smith's  incumbency  do  not  include 
the  names  of  the  wardens.  Daniel  Updike  was,  how- 
ever, aftive  in  the  church  at  that  period,  and  is  known 
to  have  been,  a  little  later,  repeatedly  a  warden. 


264  Notes 

^79    '■'■Mr.  Ray  Greened 

Ray  Greene,  the  eldest  son  of  the  second  Governor  Wil- 
liamGreene,^^Vas  born  in  Warwick,  Rhode  Island,Feb- 
ruary  2,  1765,  and  died  in  the  same  town,  January  i, 
1849.  H^  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1784.  From 
1794  to  1797,  Mr.  Greene  was  attorney-general  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  from  the  latter  year  until  1801, 
when  he  resigned,  a  United  States  Senator.  His  son, 
William,  was  lieutenant-governor  of  the  State  from 
1866  to  1868. 

^80    ^^He  possessed  a  good  library. ^^ 

Among  Mr.  Updike's  books  were  Dr.  MacSparran's 
America  DisseSfed^  Dublin  (price,  a  British  sixpence); 
several  of  the  Doctor's  published  sermons  j  William 
Richardson's''"  The  Liberty  of  the  Laity  not  Infringed 
by  the  Sacred  Dignity  of  the  Priesthood^  Newport,  1753; 
Law  ^uibhles^  printed  at  Addison's  Head,  without 
Temple  Bar,  1729;  and  a  folio  copy  of  Bishop  Pearson's 
Exposition  of  the  Creed.,  formerly  the  property  of  Dr. 
MacSparran.  (See  also  Note  184.) 

581     "Aplin:' 

The  first  Aplin  known  In  Rhode  Island  was  named 
John,  a  lawyer  and  a  general  contemporary  of  those 
whose  names  are  here  joined  with  his.  He  came  to  this 
country  as  a  wool-comber,  but  on  account  of  his  good 
education  and  brilliant  parts  was  able  to  rise  to  emi- 
nence at  the  Bar.  Mr.  Aplin  was  a  Churchman  by  sym- 
pathy and  convi6lion,  and  wrote  a  very  able  rejoinder 
to  Dr.  Mayhew's"^*  pamphlet,  to  which  it  was  said  to 
be  superior.  Convi6ted  on,  as  it  was  believed  by  his 
friends,  insufficient  grounds,  of  conduit  unbecoming  his 
profession,  he  fled  to  Connedicut,  where  he  soon  after- 
wards died,  being  buried  in  the  old  church-yard  in  Brook- 
lyn. This  is,  no  doubt,  the  Aplin  here  spoken  of  as  re- 
membered by  the  second  Attorney-General  Updike.  He 
had,  however,  a  son  Joseph,  who  must  have  been  more 
nearly  contemporaneous  with  Mr.  Updike.  This  latter 
Aplin  was  a  regularly  bred  lawyer,  having  studied  under 


Notes  265 

his  father,  lived  in  Providence,  and  had  a  pra6lice  equal 
to  the  best.  He  was  also  a  great  trout-catcher,  always 
carrying  with  him  on  his  expeditions  limes^  loaf-sugar^ 
choco/ate^znd  his  Bible.  While  his  fish  were  cooking  and 
the  chocolate  was  boiling,  he  would  read  from  the  books 
of  Job  and  Isaiah  and  turn  their  sublime  thoughts  into 
poetry.  He  had  fine  taste,  loved  belles-lettres^  possessed 
excellent  manners,  dressed  in  crimson,  and  was  one  of 
the  most  companionable  men  of  his  day. 

582  "Oliver  Arnold.'* 

Mr.  Arnold  (born  in  Glocester,  Rhode  Island,  in  1736; 
died  at  Kingston  in  1770)  was  attorney-general  of 
the  State  from  1766  until  his  death.  In  1762,  he  re- 
moved from  Glocester  to  Providence,  having  purchased 
a  house  on  North  Main  Street.  He  was  an  opponent  of 
John  Aplin,  mentioned  in  the  preceding  Note,  and  con- 
du61:ed  the  case  against  him  at  the  time  of  his  trial  and 
conviction.  Mrs.  Catherine  R.  Williams,  an  authoress, 
was  a  granddaughter  of  Mr,  Arnold.  A  sketch  of  him 
is  found  in  Updike's  Memoirs  of  the  Rhode  Island  Bar^ 
pp.  70-81. 

583  ''Bradford:' 

William  Bradford,  physician,  was  a  descendant  of  Gov- 
ernor Bradford,  of  Plymouth  Colony,  having  been  born 
in  Massachusetts,  November  4,  1 729.  At  first  he  prac- 
tised medicine  at  Warren,  Rhode  Island,  but  later  re- 
moved to  Bristol,  where  he  built  a  house,  studied  law, 
and  attained  a  high  rank  in  that  profession.  In  1 775,  he 
was  chosen  deputy  governor.  When  Bristol  was  bom- 
barded by  Captain  Wallace,  Bradford  went  on  board 
The  Rose  and  treated  with  the  British  commander  for 
the  cessation  of  the  attack.  In  i  793,  Governor  Bradford 
took  his  seat  as  a  United  States  Senator  from  Rhode  Is- 
land. He  died  in  Bristol,  July  6,  1808.  As  an  advocate 
Bradford  was  oiThand  and  naturally  eloquent,  appeal- 
ing to  the  passions  of  the  jury.  He  dressed  in  red,  with 
white  stockings,  cocked  hat,  and  low  shoes,  boots  be- 
ing then  worn  only  in  riding.  He  was  wont,  in  pleading, 
to  allude  to  what  the  good  Colonel  Updike^  who  had  aided 


266  Notes 

him  very  much  at  the  beginning  of  his  practice,  had 
said  or  laid  down  as  law. 

584  ^^Bourne" 

Benjamin  Bourne  (born  in  Bristol,  Rhode  Island,  Sep- 
tember 9,  1755;  died  September  1 7, 1 808)  was  a  great- 
great-grandson  of  Richard  Bourne,  missionary,  who 
came  from  England  and  died  in  Sandwich,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1682.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
1775,  studied  law,  and  practised  in  Providence.  Mr. 
Bourne  was  elecSled  the  first  representative  to  Congress 
from  Rhode  Island,  after  the  adoption  of  the  Consti- 
tution,being  twice  reelected.  In  1 801,  he  was  appointed 
judge  of  the  United  States  district  court  in  Rhode  Is- 
land. 

585  ^^ Goodwin.'' 

Henry  Goodwin  was  born  in  Boston  (it  is  believed),  April 
30,  1760,  being  the  second  son  of  Benjamin  Goodwin 
andhiswife,  Hannah  LeBaron,  of  Plymouth, oneof  "Dr. 
LeBaron's  Daughters"  and  a  granddaughter  of  Francis 
LeBaron,  "The  Nameless  Nobleman."  Mr.  Goodwin 
was  educated  at  Cambridge,  and  came  to  Rhode  Island, 
where  he  read  law  under  General  Varnum,  soon  after 
theWaroftheRevolution.He  married, September,  1782, 
Polly  Bradford,  a  daughter  of  Governor  Bradford,'"  of 
Bristol,  and  began  the  practice  of  the  law  in  Taunton, 
Massachusetts,  removing  soon  after  to  Newport,  where 
he pradised  until  his  death.  May  31,  1789.  From  1787 
to  1789,  Mr.  Goodwin  was  attorney-general  of  the 
State.  He  was  a  man  of  brilliant  but  somewhat  erratic 
genius,  being  possessed  of  a  vast  fund  of  wit.  Dr.  Man- 
ning, the  first  president  of  Rhode  Island  College,  is 
said,by  tradition,  to  have  made  the  remark,  concerning 
him, that"  such  a  rare  genius  is  not  born  more  than  once 
in  a  century."  In  person  Mr.  Goodwin  was  rather  above 
the  middle  stature,  his  countenance  being  somewhat 
severe  and  determined,  with  regular,  animated  features. 
His  dress  was  at  the  top  of  the  mode,  rich  and  showy. 
It  was  an  obje6t  of  particular  attention  to  him,  not  one 
other  member  of  the  Bar  in  this  respect  vying  with  him. 


t^.'t^erA^  (^fie/'K 


Notes  267 

He  was  warm-hearted  and  high-minded,  but  lacked 
equipoise  and  submitted  to  no  restraint.  When  at  length 
his  excitable  temper  and  violent  passions  caused  him  to 
be  partially  unbalanced  in  intelle6l,  leading  to  his  death 
at  scarcely  twenty-nine,  Dr.  Senter,  the  most  eminent 
physician  in  Newport  at  that  day,  remarked  that  "  no- 
thing was  the  matter  with  Goodwin,  only  he  hzd  Jibed 
all  standing,"  Mr.  Goodwin  had  a  son,  Henry,  who  died 
in  181 1  (or  1812),  soon  after  graduating  from  Brown 
University,  and  three  daughters :  Hannah,  who  married 
her  cousin,  Simeon  Goodwin;  Mary,  who  married 
Charles  DeWolf,  of  Bristol;  and  Charlotte,  who  mar- 
ried General  George  DeWolf,  of  the  same  town.  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  a  grandson  of  Mrs.  George 
DeWolf,  Samuel  Pomeroy  Colt,of  Bristol,  like  his  great- 
grandfather, held  the  office  of  attorney-general  (from 
1882  to  1 886).  Among  the  brothers  of  Henry  Goodwin 
was  Captain  Daniel  Goodwin  (born  September  16, 
1 76  7), the  father  of  four  Episcopal  clergymen,  of  whom 
the  eldest  was  the  Rev.  Daniel  LeBaron  Goodwin  (born 
July  28,  1800). 

586    "Channing.'' 

William  Channing  (born  in  Newport,  May  31, 1751; 
died  at  the  same  place,  September  17,  1793)  was  a  son 
of  John  Channing,  merchant,  and  a  grandson  of  John 
Channing,  of  Dorsetshire,  England,  the  first  of  the 
name  who  came  to  America.  Mr.  Channing  was  edu- 
cated at  Nassau  Hall  (now  Princeton  University),  where 
he  graduated  in  1769.  In  May,  1773,  he  was  married 
to  Lucy,  daughter  of  William  Ellery,  one  of  the  sign- 
ers of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  by  whom  he 
had  eleven  children,  among  them  the  honoured  Wil- 
liam Ellery  Channing,  clergyman,  and  Professor  Ed- 
ward Tyrrel  Channing  of  Harvard  College.  Mr.  Chan- 
ning was  attorney-general  of  Rhode  Island  from  1777 
to  1787  and  from  1791  until  his  death. 

Judge  Dawes  describes  his  style  of  speaking  as  re- 
markable for  its  sweet  fluency,  calling  it  "melliflu- 
ous," a  quahty  which  may  have  descended  to  his  distin- 


268  Notes 

guished  son.  He  had  an  extensive  pra6lice  and  was  con- 
sidered during  his  latter  years  the  leading  counsel  of  the 
State. 

587  "A  well-wrought  silver  flagon.** 

This  beautiful  and  remarkable  piece  of  plate  was  made 
about  1720,  and  is  a  sort  of  chocolate-pot.  It  was  just 
about  the  date  1720  that  the  old  form  of  straight  tank- 
ard went  out  of  fashion  and  this  shape  took  its  place. 
At  the  present  day  such  a  piece  would  be  used  for  choco- 
late, but  when  given  it  is  probable  that  it  was  meant 
for  spiced  wine  or  ale  served  hot.  The  flagon  is  now 
(1907)  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Daniel  Berkeley  Up- 
dike, a  great-great-grandson  of  Colonel  Daniel  Updike, 
to  whom  Dean  Berkeley  sent  it  over  about  1733. 

588  ^^1'he  longevity  of  Mr,  Updike  and  his  family*'' 
Daniel  Updike,  of  East  Greenwich,  attained  the  age  of 
eighty-one  years,  but  six  of  his  brothers  and  sisters  sur- 
passed him  with  an  average  of  ninety-two  years.  As 
narrated  in  the  text,  Mr.  Updike  was,  in  1 790, secretary 
of  the  convention  which,  on  the  part  of  the  people  of 
Rhode  Island,  ratified  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.  It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  for  a  long  time 
it  was  not  generally  known  that  there  existed  any  re- 
cord of  the  proceedings  of  this  convention.  The  Sec- 
retary of  State  had  nothing  among  his  records  that  in- 
dicated that  such  a  convention  had  ever  been  in  ses- 
sion. There  was  no  direft  proof  in  his  office  that  Rhode 
Island  had  adopted  the  Constitution,  although  the  sub- 
sequent a6tion  of  the  General  Assembly  was  sufficient 
evidence  that  the  convention  had  ailed  upon  the  ques- 
tions presented  for  their  consideration.  Why  the  Sec- 
retary did  not  deposit  his  minutes  in  the  archives  of  the 
State  is  not  known.  As  late  as  1863,  his  brother,  Wil- 
kins  Updike,  committed  to  the  Honourable  Joh  n  R.  Bart- 
lett,  then  Secretary  of  State,  papers,  documents,  and 
minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  the  convention,  preserved 
by  its  secretary.  These  papers  are  full  of  interest  to 
persons  who  desire  to  acquaint  themselves  with  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  an  early  epoch  in  Rhode  Island  his- 


Notes  269 

tory.  Unfortunately  the  minutes  of  the  arguments,  pro 
and  con,  advanced  by  the  members  of  the  convention 
are  in  handw^riting  difficult  to  decipher.  What  has  been 
made  out  may  be  found  in  Judge  Staples's  Rhode  Island 
in  the  Continental  Congress^  pp.  644-56. 

589  ^'■Governor  Pownall.'' 

Thomas  Pownall  was  born  in  England,  in  1720,  and 
came  to  America,  October,  1753,  as  private  secretary 
to  Sir  Danvers  Osborne,  royal  governor  of  New  York. 
In  1755,  he  was  made  lieutenant-governor  of  New 
Jersey.  In  1 756,  he  became  governor  of  Massachusetts, 
in  succession  to  Shirley.  In  1760,  he  was  appointed 
governor  of  South  Carolina,  but  returned  to  England 
without  assuming  the  office,  and  was  almost  immedi- 
ately ele6ted  to  Parliament.  He  continued  a  firm  and 
consistent  friend  of  the  American  idea,  and  was  the  first 
member  to  bring  in  a  bill  for  peace  with  the  colonies. 

590  ''Colonel  Otisy 

James  Otis,  the  elder  (born  in  Barnstable,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1702),  a  great-grandson  of  John  Otis,  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  Hingham,  was  a  colonel  of  the  militia, 
justice  of  the  common  pleas,  judge  of  probate, and  mem- 
ber of  the  council.  He  married  Mary,  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  Allyne,  of  Plymouth,  by  whom  he  had  thirteen 
children. 

591  ''James  Otis.^* 

James  Otis,  son  of  the  preceding  and  the  more  cele- 
brated bearer  of  the  name,  was  born  at  West  Barn- 
stable, Massachusetts,  February  5,  1725,  and  died  in 
Andover,  May  23, 1783.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege in  1 743,  and  began  the  practice  of  the  law  at  Ply- 
mouth in  1 748,  removing  to  Boston  in  i  750,  where  he 
soon  rose  to  the  foremost  rank  in  his  profession.  The 
subsequent  brilliant  and  patriotic  career  of  Otis  is  well 
known. 

592  "He  died  in  England  in  June,  1779." 

The  family  of  Sir  Francis  Barnard  has  recently  been 


270  Notes 

recalled  to  notice  by  an  article  on  "  Charity  a  Hundred 
Years  Ago,"  by  the  Countess  of  Jersey,  in  the  Nine- 
teenth Cetitury  and  After.  His  son,  Thomas,  who  re- 
ceived most  of  his  education  in  America,  and  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  College,  after  returning  to  England 
studied  law  and  set  up  a  profitable  and  successful  busi- 
ness as  a  conveyancer.  The  latter  portion  of  his  life, 
however,  he  devoted  entirely  to  philanthropy,  interest- 
ing himself  in  the  Foundling  Hospital  and  establish- 
ing, in  1796,  assisted  by  the  Bishop  of  Durham,  Wil- 
liam Wilberforce,  and  others.  The  Society  for  Better- 
ing the  Condition  and  Increasing  the  Comforts  of  the 
Poor.  It  is  the  five  volumes  containing  the  reports  of 
this  association  which  form  the  basis  of  the  countess's 
essay  on  the  condition  of  the  urban  and  rural  poor  of 
that  period  and  the  efforts  made  for  the  solution  of  its 
social  problems.  The  philanthropist,  some  years  before 
his  death,  succeeded  to  the  baronetcy. 

593  ^'Blake's  Biography." 

This  title  probably  refers  to  the  Biographical  DiSiionary., 
published  in  New  York,  in  1835,  by  the  Rev.  John 
Lauris  Blake,  and  reissued  by  him,  in  a  revised  form, 
in  1857,  as  ^^^  Universal  Biographical  DiSfionary. 

594  "Mrs.  'Bours" 

Abigail  Hazard  (born  Sunday,  March  12, 1726,  six  suc- 
cessive children  in  the  family  being  born  on  that  day 
of  the  week)  was  the  second  daughter  of  Deputy  Gov- 
ernor George  Hazard^^^  and  a  sister  of  Mayor  George 
Hazard,  of  Newport.  Her  marriage  to  the  Rev.  Peter 
Bours  occurred  on  February  27,  1753.  It  is  noticeable 
that  her  second  marriage,  recorded  in  the  text, took  place 
on  the  exa6l  tenth  anniversary  of  the  first.  It  is  probable 
that  the  occurrence  of  this  wedding  in  Newport  was  on 
account  of  Mrs.  Bours's  having  returned  to  the  house  of 
her  brother,  George,  after  the  death  of  her  first  husband, 
a  year  previously ,  her  father  having  died  many  years  before. 
The  publishment  of  Mrs.  Bours  and  Mr.  Fayerweather 
is  thus  recorded  in  the  Parish  Register:  "On  the  13''' 
Of  the  Month  [February,  1763]  Sunday,  Mr.  F — 


Notes  271 

was  Publishd  to  Mrs  Abigail  Bours  The  Surviving  Re- 
lict of  the  Revd  Peter  Bours  of  Marblehead  In  Trinity 
Church,  Newport,  By  the  Revd  Mr  Browne  And  on 
Ash- Wednesday  being  the  ib'*^  PubHshd  the  Second 
time  And  Sunday  Feb>  20^  Was  the  third  &  Last  time 
of  Asking."  In  the  will  of  Mr.  Fayerweather,  of  which 
anextradiis  given  below  in  the  text,  he  gave  his  "wife's 
pifture  of  herself,  to  her  niece,  the  wife  of  John  Chan- 
ning."  Mrs.  John  Channing's  name  was  Abigail.  In  an 
ancient  unsigned  memorandum, it  is  asserted  that  "The 
portrait  of  Dr.  Fayerweather's  wife  was  given  to  Ruth 
Channing,  his  wife's  niece,  and  she  gave  it  to  her  sister, 
a  Mrs.  Robinson  of  Conne6ticut,  and  she  came  to  Dr. 
George  Hazard's  and  took  it,  where  it  was  hanging,  and 
carried  it  away  to  Connefticut.  Mr.  Robinson  was  a 
physician  in  Connecticut."  The  explanation  of  this  ap- 
parent discrepancy  in  names  appears  to  be  that  Ruth 
Channing  and  Mrs.  Robinson  must  have  been  daughters 
of  Mrs.  Abigail  Channing  and  thus  ^r^w^nieces  of  Mrs. 
Fayerweather.  Beside  the  fa6t  that  Mrs.  Channing  was 
not  named  Ruth,  it  is  also  true  that  she  had  no  sister^ 
Mrs.  Robinson.  Dr.  George  Hazard,  in  whose  care  the 
portrait  was  left,  was  a  first  cousin  of  Mrs.  Channing 
and  a  nephew  of  Mrs.  Fayerweather. 

^^The  Rev.  Marmaduke  Browney 

A  notice  of  Mr.  Browne  will  be  found  after  an  entry 

of  March  21,  1771,  in  the  text  (Vol.  ii.  p.  94). 

^^Preached  on  the  Occasion^ 

On  the  occurrence  of  another  wedding,  on  Conanicut 
Island,  Mr.  Fayerweather  recorded  that  he  "  Preached 
a  Sermon  On  the  happy  Occasion  from  these  words: 
*  Love  one  another.' "  One  of  the  numerous  manuscript 
sermons  from  his  pen,  still  preserved,  bears  a  memo- 
randum that  it  was  preached  at  the  time  of  some  con- 
vention of  the  clergy,  from  the  text  2  Kings  iv.  38: 
"And  he  said  unto  his  servant,  Set  on  the  great  pot  and 
seethe  pottage  for  the  sons  of  the  prophets,"  the  sub- 
ject being  Hospitality.  After  about  1775,  Mr.  Fayer- 
weather seldom  preached  except  at  funerals.  There  are 


272  Notes 

several  manuscript  funeral  prayers  among  his  papers, 
one  of  them  being  entitled  "  A  Funeral  Prayer  in  Church 
on  Mr.  Benjamin  Gardiner's'"'  Child," — an  occasion 
in  respedt  to  which  Mrs.  Anstis  Lee,  in  a  letter  writ- 
ten more  than  sixty  years  afterwards  (January,  1842), 
remarked:  "I  heard  him  preach  at  Uncle  B.  Gardiner's 
son  Benjamin's  funeral,  a  child  about  a  year  old." 

597  ^^The  Rev.  Mr.  Stickney." 

The  Rev.  Moses  P.  Stickney  was  formerly  a  Congre- 
gational minister,  and  was  ordained  in  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  or  about  1841.  From  1842  to  1847,  ^^  ^^^ 
in  charge  of  St.  Michael's  Church,  Marblehead,  Mas- 
sachusetts,being  later  reilor  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Cam- 
bridgeport,  and  an  assistant  at  the  Church  of  the  Ad- 
vent, Boston.  In  1872,  Mr.  Stickney  removed  to  Ver- 
mont, where  he  was  settled  over  Christ  Church,  Bethel, 
and  later  resided  at  Royalton,  dying  previously  to  1898. 

598  ''The  Rev.  Peter  Bours." 

In  a  sketch  of  Mr.  Bours,  in  the  History  of  the  East- 
ern Diocese.,  i.  481-2,  Mr.  Batchelder  remarks:  "Hav- 
ing regard  to  the  reports  of  Mr.  Bours  to  the  Society 
in  England,  it  is  evident  that  his  ministry  in  Marble- 
head  was  very  successful.  His  pure  life,  amiable  man- 
ners and  chastened  zeal,  in  the  service  of  the  Master, 
secured  for  him  the  kindly  regards  of  all  men.  The 
memory  of  him  is  still  fragrant. .  . .  The  following  sen- 
tences of  the  Rev.  John  Barnard  [the  'contemporary' 
of  the  text  and  a  Congregational  pastor  at  Marblehead] 
are  here  appropriate :  'Their  fifth  minister  was  the  wor- 
thy Mr.  Bours,  of  Rhode  Island,  bred  at  our  College, — 
a  man  of  an  excellent  temper,  good  learning  and  great 
piety,  whose  good  carriage  gained  more  to  the  Church 
of  England  than  all  the  years  that  preceded  him.  My 
people  were  very  fond  of  him  and  kind  to  him,  inso- 
much that  the  Church  minister  has  told  me  he  received 
more  presents  from  my  people  than  his  own;  and  I  and 
Mr.  Bradstreet,  of  the  other  Church  in  the  town,  main- 
tained the  stri6lest  brotherly  love  and  friendship  with 
him.'" 


Notes  273 

599  ^^ Peter  BourSy  Esq" 

Dr.  MacSparran  speaks  of  Peter  Bours,  the  elder,  in 
his  Diary ^  as  a  leading  Churchman  in  Trinity  Church, 
Newport.  Mr.  Mason,  in  the  Annals  ofTrinlty  Churchy 
remarks  upon  him,  as  "an  influential  man,  both  in  the 
church  and  in  the  community."  He  had  served  the  town 
with  such  fidelity  that  when,  in  about  1761,  through 
failing  health,  he  was  forced  to  retire,  a  committee  wait- 
ed on  him  to  thank  him  for  his  singular  services. 

600  '"'•'The  Rev.  Joshua  Wingate  Weeks." 

Mr.  Weeks  was  born  at  Hampton,  New  Hampshire, 
being  a  descendant  of  Leonard  Weeks,  who  settled  in 
Portsmouth  in  1667.  In  1775,  he  left  his  parish  and 
sought  refuge  at  the  house  of  his  brother-in-law,  the 
Rev.  Jacob  Bailey, in  Pownalborough, Maine. In  1776, 
he  returned  to  Marblehead  and  officiated  for  some  time. 
In  1778,  he  sailed  for  England  from  New  York,  leav- 
ing his  family  dependent  on  charity.  In  1779  or  178 1, 
he  was  appointed  by  the  Society  missionary  at  Anna- 
polis Royal, Nova  Scotia.  Here  his  differences  with  Mr. 
Bailey,  as  to  relative  rights  and  duties,  led  to  a  perma- 
nent alienation  between  them,  while  his  insubordina- 
tion, in  respe6l  to  the  Society,  impelled  its  officers  to 
write  opposite  his  name  and  appointment,  in  the  Ful- 
ham  manuscript  list  of  missionaries,  the  words,  "Eje6l- 
ed  himself."  In  1793,  Mr.  Weeks  was  again  made  a 
missionary,  this  time  at  Preston,  Nova  Scotia,  and,  in 
1795,  he  removed  to  Guysborough.  He  died  in  1803 
or  1804,  ^t»  i*^  ^s  supposed,  the  town  last  mentioned. 
The  conduit  of  Mr.  Weeks  has  been  criticised  in  con- 
ne6lion  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bass  (afterwards  Bishop), 
whom  he  represented  to  the  Society  in  such  a  light  as 
led  to  a  suspension  of  stipend,  on  account  of  his  giving 
up  praying  for  the  Royal  Family.  Mr.  Weeks,  previously 
to  going  to  England,  in  1763,  married  Mary  Tread- 
well,  of  Ipswich,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children. 

601  '■'■Benning  Wentworth^  Esq." 

Governor  Wentworth  (born  in  Portsmouth,  July  24, 


274  Notes 

1 696  J  died  there  October  14,  1770)  was  the  second 
of  three  members  of  his  distinguished  family  to  bear 
the  title  in  New  Hampshire. 

602  '•'■T^he  Rev.  Arthur  Browne." 

A  notice  of  Mr.  Browne,  father  of  the  Rev.  Marma- 
duke  Browne/^'  will  be  found  below,  in  the  text,  in  the 
sketch  of  King's  Church  (now  St.  John's),  Providence. 

603  ^'■Edward  Wanton." 

It  is  a  matter  of  tradition  that  Edward  Wanton  emi- 
grated from  London  to  Boston  with  his  mother.  He  is 
known  to  have  been  living  in  the  latter  town  in  1658, 
but  how  much  earlier  he  may  have  arrived  there  is,  so  far 
as  now  appears,  unrecorded.  He  was  the  first  ancestor 
in  America  of  a  family  than  which  none  is  more  promi- 
nent by  reason  of  the  distinguished  services  it  has  been 
able  to  render  to  the  State  of  Rhode  Island.  For  a  cen- 
tury the  Wantons  stood  in  the  foremost  rank  of  the  life 
— social,  political,  and  commercial — of  the  common- 
wealth. For  generations  they  were  the  leading  merchants 
of  the  colony.  Five  of  the  family  bore  the  title  of  gover- 
nor or  deputy  governor.  It  is  related  that  after  witness- 
ing the  execution  of  the  Quakers,  Edward  Wanton  was 
struck  with  compunction  and  exclaimed:  "Alas,  mo- 
ther, we  have  been  murdering  the  Lord^s people."  His  call- 
ing, after  removing  to  Scituate,  Massachusetts,  was  that 
of  a  ship-builder,  in  which  four  at  least  of  his  sons  fol- 
lowed him.  By  his  first  wife,  Margaret,  Mr.  Wanton 
had  two  children,  who  died  young.  By  his  second  wife, 
Elizabeth,  who  was  recommended  to  him  by  an  Eng- 
lish Quaker  and  came  over  to  marry  him  before  they  had 
ever  met,  he  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  three  be- 
came prominent.  Edward  Wanton  died  December  16, 
171 6,  leaving  a  memory  in  Scituate  held  in  high  respe6l 
by  tradition  from  generation  to  generation.  (See  John 
R.  Bartlett's  Historical  Tra£i^  on  the  Wanton  family.) 

604  "//zV  eldest  son,  Joseph." 

Soon  after  removing  to  Tiverton,  in  1688,  for  the  pur- 
pose apparently  of  prosecuting  more  favourably  the 


Notes  275 

business  of  ship-building,  Joseph  Wanton  was  married 
"ninth  [or  twenty-ninth]  of  eleventh  month,  1689,"  to 
Sarah,  a  daughter  of  Gideon  Freeborn,  of  Portsmouth, 
Rhode  Island,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  Gideon, 
the  future  governor,  being  the  third.  Joseph's  fourth 
child, Sarah  (born  1696), married,  first,  Benjamin  How- 
land,  and,  second,  Thomas  Spencer,  of  East  Greenwich, 
the  first  English  child  born  in  the  town.  The  sixth  child, 
Mary  (born  1700),  married  Thomas  Richardson,  of 
Newport,  and  their  daughter  Sarah  married  Thomas 
Robinson.^"  Joseph  Wanton  was  born  in  1 664  and  died 
in  1754.  It  may  be  noted  here  that  Elizabeth  (born 
1668),  the  eldest  daughter  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth 
Wanton,  married  Edward  (John?)  Scott,  of  Scott  Hall, 
Kent,  England,  her  daughter  Katharine  becoming  the 
wife  of  Godfrey  Malbone,^^'  of  Newport,  Rhode  Island. 

605  ^'■William  Wanton  {son  of  Edward).'" 
Governor  William  Wanton  (born  1670)  must  have  left 
Scituate  much  earlier  than  1 704,  the  year  mentioned  in 
the  text.  There  is  a  record  of  his  marriage  to  Ruth  Bri- 
^«/,  of  Scituate,  Massachusetts, by  Caleb  Carr,assistant, 
at  Portsmouth,  Rhode  Island,  January  (or  June)  1,1691, 
when  he  is  called  "William  Wanton,  of  Portsmouth." 
William  and  Ruth  had  nine  children,  of  whom  Captain 
George,  the  eldest  son  (born  1 694),  married,  December 
i5,i7i5,Abigail,daughterofBenjaminEllery, of  New- 
port, and  Joseph,  the  fifth  son,  became  governor  of 
Rhode  Island.  It  is  said  that  the  original  obje6l  of  Wil- 
liam and  his  brother  John,  in  coming  to  Portsmouth,  was 
to  praftise  ship-building,  although  they  eventually  be- 
came merchants.  William  was  distinguished  for  his  pol- 
ished and  gentlemanly  manners.  His  portrait,  together 
with  thatof  his  brother  John  and  his  son  Joseph, — three 
governors, — is  preserved  in  the  Redwood  Library  at 
Newport. 

606  "Daniel  Updike  .  .  .  married  his  widow." 
Governor  William  Wanton's  first  wife,  Ruth  Bryant, 
died  sometime  previously  to  April  10,  171 7,  when  he 
married  Mary  Godfrey,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 


276  Notes 

beth  Godfrey,  who  is  the  one  to  whom  Colonel  Up- 
dike was  married  in  1745,  about  a  dozen  years  subse- 
quently to  the  death  of  Governor  Wanton,  Mrs.  Mary 
Updike  is  repeatedly  mentioned,  in  Dr.  MacSparran's 
Dia?y,^s  being  on  intimate  terms  with  himself  and  Mrs. 
MacSparran.  Mrs.  Updike's  "daughter,  Ruth  Wanton," 
referred  to,  along  with  herself,  in  an  entry  of  September 
26,  1 75 1 ,  must  have  been  her  stepdaughter  (born  June 
12,  1701),  of  about  her  own  age,  while  "litle  Molly 
Wanton,"  mentioned  July  26,  1 745,  appears,  although 
not  certainly,  to  have  been  an  own  daughter  of  Mrs. 
Updike,  by  her  first  husband.  She  may,  however,  have 
been  a  child  of  one  of  her  stepsons. 

There  is  extant  a  curious  document,  executed  March 
12,  1735,  being  an  award  between  Mary  Wanton,  of 
Newport,  executrix  of  the  last  will  and  testament  of 
William  Wanton,"  Marrinor,"  deceased, and  John  Bap- 
tist Vale,  resident  of  Providence,  gentleman,  signed 
by  Joseph  Jacob,  Samuel  Wickham,  Peter  Bours,  and 
David  Chesebrough,the  head  of  his  Majesty,  George  II, 
in  black  sealing-wax,  attesting  each  signature.  The  re- 
ferees declare:  "We  find  that  there  is  Justly  due  from 
the  said  Mary  Wanton  (as  Executrix  of  her  said  De- 
ceased Husband,  William  Wanton)  unto  the  said  John 
Baptist  Vale  upon  the  Ballance  of  all  accounts.  Debts, 
Dues  and  Demands  whatsoever  The  Sum  of  fifty 
five  Pounds  twelve  Shillings  and  two  Pence  Currant 
Money  of  New  England.  .  .  .  We  also  order  the  said 
Mary  Wanton  to  Deliver  to  the  said  John  Baptist  Vale 
or  his  Attorney  on  Demand  Two  half  Barrels  of  Gun 
Powder  belonging  to  said  Vale,  which  is  now  in  the 
Custody  of  y^  sd  Mary  Wanton."  It  is  not  unlikely  that 
Colonel  Daniel  Updike,  Mrs.  Wanton's  future  hus- 
band, who  was  at  that  period  living  and  practising  law 
at  Newport,  was  her  counsel  in  this  and  other  legal 
matters. 

607    "John  Wanton" 

Governor  John  Wanton  (born  December  24,  1672) 
was  the  fourth  son  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth.  He  mar- 


Notes  277 

ried,  first,  Ann,  daughter  of  Gideon  Freeborn,  of  Ports- 
mouth, and  second,  Mary  Stafford,  of  Tiverton.  His 
elder  son,  John,  married,  June  10,  1718,  Ann,  daugh- 
ter of  Abraham  Redwood,  lately  removed  to  New^port 
from  Antigua,  and  sister  of  Abraham  Redvv^ood,  the 
philanthropist.  Governor  Wanton  had  held  the  office 
of  deputy  governor  for  several  years  before,  upon  the 
death  of  his  brother.  Governor  William  Wanton, he  was 
eleiled  to  succeed  him,  continuing  in  the  office  until  his 
own  death.  He  is  chara6lerizedas  a  "liberal  patron  of  the 
arts  "  and,  upon  the  records  of  the  Friends^  as  "  for  many 
years  a  valuable  public  friend." 

Michael  Wanton  (born  1679,  died  about  1 74 1 )  was 
the  son  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth  Wanton,  next  younger 
thanGovernorJohn.  His  granddaughter,  Abigail  Cogges- 
hall,  married  Silas  Casey,  of  East  Greenwich,  grand- 
father of  the  late  General  Silas  Casey  and  great-grand- 
father of  the  late  General  Thomas  Lincoln  Casey,  the 
late  Thomas  Casey  Greene,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  William  Max- 
well Greene,  now  United  States  consul  at  Bermuda. 

608    ^^  Gideon  Wanton,  son  of  Joseph.'' 

In  the  original  edition  of  this  work.  Governor  Gideon 
Wanton  is  said  to  have  been  a  son  of  Philips  but  this  is 
evidently  an  inadvertence.  It  is  true  that  Philip  Wan- 
ton, the  youngest  son  of  the  settler,  Edward,  removed, 
like  so  many  others  of  the  family,  to  Rhode  Island;  but 
the  name  of  Gideon  does  not  appear  among  his  chil- 
dren, and  he  was  himself  but  seven  years  older  than  his 
nephew, the  governor,  who  was  born  06lober  20, 1693. 
Joseph,  the  father  of  Gideon,  has  already  been  noticed 
in  Note  604,  where  the  origin  of  his  son's  Christian 
name  also  appears.  Gideon  Wanton  married  Mary  Cod- 
man  in  1 7 1 8.  Governor  Gideon  Wanton's  granddaugh- 
ter, Mary,  married  Daniel  Lyman.  Their  daughter, 
Polly  Lyman,  married  Jacob  Bunnell,  of  Madeira,  July 
7,  1 808,  and  their  daughter,  Anne  Maria, married  Rich- 
ard Kidder  Randolph,  of  Virginia,  in  1802.  Richard 
Kidder  Randolph,  a  son  ofthis  marriage, became  the  hus- 
band of  Isabella  Watson,  daughter  of  Wilkins  Updike. 


278  Notes 

609    ''''Joseph  Wanton  . . .  son  of  William^ 

While  so  many  of  the  Wantons  were  Quakers,  Gov- 
ernor Joseph  Wanton  (born  August  15,1 705)  adhered, 
like  his  father,  to  the  Church  of  England.  In  respect 
to  the  statement,  in  the  text,  that  he  was  ele6led  lieu- 
tenant (deputy)  governor  in  1 764  and  1 767,  Mr.  Bart- 
lett,  in  his  Historical  TraSl^  on  the  Wanton  family, 
already  alluded  to,  remarks:  "This  is  evidently  in- 
corre£l,  as  there  was  a  Joseph  Wanton,  ^r.,  son  of 
Governor  Joseph,  who  had  been,  for  many  years,  a 
member  of  the  General  Assembly  and  who,  it  is  be- 
lieved, was  the  Deputy  Governor.  There  is  a  letter  (see 
Peterson's  Rhode  Island^  p.  209)  from  Stephen  Hopkins 
to  the  people  of  the  State,  dated  April  16,  1764,  in 
praise  of  the  character  of  the  Mr.  Wanton,  who  was 
Deputy  Governor  under  him,  in  which  he  says,'  He  is  but 
a  boy  about  thirty-four  years  old.'  Now  Governorjoseph 
Wanton,  having  been  born  in  1 705,  was  then  fifty-nine 
years  of  age,  which  clearly  shows  that  he  was  not  the 
Deputy  Governor,  as  supposed.  There  has  been  a  ques- 
tion who  the  Joseph  Wanton,  Jr.,  was,  who  was  Lieu- 
tenant Governor  in  1764  and  1767,  as  Governor  Gid- 
eon Wanton  had  a  son  Joseph,  born  in  1730  (?).  In 
the  record  of  births  at  Newport,  is  the  name  of  Joseph 
Wanton, born  in  1730.  (His  father's  name  is  not  stated.) 
Now  Governor  Joseph,  who  was  born  in  1705,  had  a 
son  named  Joseph,  who  was  his  eldest  child.  We  find, 
too,  that  by  the  records  of  Harvard  College,  Joseph 
Wanton,  Jr.,  born  February  8,  1730,  entered  college 
at  sixteen  and  a  half  years  of  age.  Again  Mr.  Hopkins, 
in  1764,  says  the  Mr.  Wanton,  who  was  elected  Deputy 
Governor,  was  thirty-four  years  old.  All  these  evidently 
refer  to  the  same  individual  and  show  that  it  was  the 
son  of  Governor  Joseph,  who  was  the  Deputy  Gov- 
ernor under  Hopkins  and,  furthermore,  that  he,  and 
not  Governor  Joseph,  as  has  been  supposed,  was  the 
graduate  of  Harvard."  Mr.  Bartlett,  in  an  appended 
note,  adds  the  following:  "On  the  3"*  of  June,  1771, 
George  Bisset  preached  a  sermon  at  Trinity  Church, 
Newport, 'at  the  Funeral  of  Mrs.  Abigail  Wanton,  late 
consort  of  the  Hon.  Joseph  Wanton,  Jun.  Esq.,  who 


Notes  279 

died  on  the  31^'  of  May,  in  the  36*'' year  of  her  age.' 
This  lady  was  doubtless  the  first  wife  of  the  deputy 
governor.  Rivingtori  s  (New  York)  Royal  Gazette  of 
August  9,  1780,  has  the  following  notice,  which  we 
think  refers  to  the  same  individual:  'It  is  with  inex- 
pressible sorrow  we  announce  to  the  public,  that,  yes- 
terday morning  at  7  o'clock,  the  Hon.  Joseph  Wan- 
ton, Jr.,  Esq.,  Superintendent-General  of  the  police  of 
Rhode  Island,  &c.,&c.  . .  His  acquaintances  of  this  city 
as  well  as  the  Loyalists  [Joseph,  senior,  lost  his  office  of 
governor,  in  1775,  because  he  was  a  tory'\^  from  the 
different  colonies,  will  attend  the  same.'" 

In  respe6l  to  Mr.  Bartlett's  statement,  above,  that 
there  is,  in  the  records  of  births,  at  Newport,  the  name 
of  Joseph  Wanton,  born  1730  (his  father's  name  not 
being  stated),  it  should  be  remarked  that  the  records 
mention  the  birth  of  but  one  Joseph  Wanton,  who  is 
said  to  have  been  the  eldest  son  of  Gideon  and  Mary 
and  to  have  been  born  "9  m.  5  d.  i'/2o"  (Arnold's  Vital 
Record  of  Rhode  Island^  Newport,  p.  121.)  This  Joseph 
would  therefore  have  been,  at  the  time  of  Governor 
Hopkins's  letter,  in  1764, about  forty-four  years  of  age, 
and  could  hardly  have  been  styled  "but  a  boy."  There 
was,  also,  no  propriety  or  necessity  for  his  being  de- 
signated as  'Junior^  not  being  the  son  of  a  Joseph,  as  was 
the  Joseph  who  was  born  February  8,  1730.  It  may 
therefore  be  regarded  as  established  that  the  "  Joseph 
Wanton,  Jr.,  of  Newport,"  who  was  eleifed  deputy 
governorof  Rhode  Island  in  1764  and  1767,  was  not  the 
"Joseph  Wanton  .  .  .  son  of  William,"  who  was  from 
1769  to  1775  governor  of  the  colony,  as  Mr.  Updike 
appears  to  have  believed,  but  a  son  of  that  Joseph. 

610  "  Governor  Lyndon.^'' 

Josias  Lyndon  (born  in  Newport,  March  10,1 704 ;  died 
in  Warren,  March  30,  1778)  was  eleffed  governor  of 
the  State  in  1768,  declining  a  reelefHon. 

611  ''AProxr 

Governor  Arnold,  in  the  History  of  Rhode  Island^  ii.  560 
(note),  remarks:  "The  term  'Prox,'  used  for  ticket  in 


28o  Notes 

political  parlance,  is  a  purely  Rhode  Island  word,  ori- 
ginating as  early  as  1647,  when  .  .  .  voting  by  proxy 
was  permitted.  .  .  .  The  paper  on  which  the  names  of 
the  candidates  voted  for  were  written  was  called  a 
prox. .  . .  The  word  continued  in  use,  in  this  State,  until 
within  a  few  years." 

612  '■'■William  F otter'' 

A  notice  of  Judge  Potter  can  be  found  above,  in  the 
text,  under  an  entry  of  November  18,  1750  (Vol.  i. 
p.  263). 

613  ''Nicholas  Cooke:* 

Governor  Cooke  was  born  in  Providence,  February  3, 
1 71 7,  and  died  September  14,  1782.  He  served  as  de- 
puty governor  from  May,  1768,  to  May,  1769,  and 
from  May,  1775,  to  November  7th  of  the  same  year, 
after  which  he  acSled  as  governor  in  place  of  Joseph 
Wanton,  deposed.  In  1776,  he  was  elected  governor, 
holding  the  office  until  May,  1778.  The  inscription 
on  Governor  Cooke's  monument,  in  Providence,  at- 
tests that  he  "merited  and  won  the  approbation  of  his 
fellow-citizens  and  was  honoured  with  the  friendship  and 
confidence  of  Washington."  Judge  Cowell,  in  the  Spirit 
ofyS  in  Rhode  Island^  p.  16,  remarks  of  him :  "  He  was 
faithful  to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him — faithful  to  his 
friends  and  faithful  to  his  country."  Two  of  Governor 
Cooke's  daughters  married  distinguished  officers  of  the 
Revolution, —  one,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jeremiah  Ol- 
ney ,  of  the  Rhode  Island  line,  and  the  other,  Asa  Water- 
man, a  commissary  of  issues. 

614  ''James  Arnold" 

The  office  which  Thomas  Wickes  had  been  holding 
for  eight  years  and  to  which  he  was  reele6ted  in  April, 
1775, —  the  month  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  —  was 
that  of  senator  from  the  town  of  Warwick,  in  the  col- 
ony assembly.  Upon  Mr.  Wickes's  omission  to  take 
his  seat  in  the  May  following,  Mr.  Arnold  was  elected 
by  the  legislature  to  take  his  place. 


Notes 


2«I 


615  "  Governor  Wanton  . . .  was  a  man  of . . .  handsome 
person  and  splendid  appearance T 

There  are  preserved,  in  the  gallery  of  the  Rhode  Island 
HistoricalSociety,strikingportraitsof  Governor  Joseph 
Wanton  and  his  vi^ife.  This  representation  of  the  gov- 
ernor, in  a  costume  of  light  green,  apparently  of  silk, 
with  his  fresh  youthful  complexion,  his  full  white  wig, 
his  head  thrown  back,  his  amiable  and  yet  proud  ex- 
pression, and  his  portly  person,  quite  justifies  the  state- 
ment that  he  was  "  a  man  of  splendid  appearance."  The 
portrait  is  a  "kit-cat"  and  very  large.  The  painter  of 
these  two  pi6lures  is  unknown,  but  the  names  of  John 
(Thomas?)  Hudson,  a  familiar  English  artist  of  the 
time,  and  John  Smibert,  the  portrayer  of  Berkeley  and 
his  family,  have  been  suggested.  The  similarity  of  the 
pose  of  Mrs.  Wanton  to  that  of  Mrs.  MacSparran,  in 
the  portrait,  certainly  by  Smibert,  and  the  contempora- 
neity of  the  Wantons  with  that  painter  in  America, 
sustain  the  latter  supposition.  The  conjecture  that  the 
Wanton  portraits  are  by  different  artists  is  hardly  ten- 
able, in  view  of  the  similarity,  or  almost  the  identity^ 
of  the  two  in  respecSl  to  the  paysage^  including  the  sky. 
This  signal  addition  to  the  paintings  of  the  Rhode  Is- 
land Historical  Society  was  made  in  1891,  by  gift  of 
Mr.  E.  P.  Warren,  of  Boston,  through  the  suggestion 
and  instrumentality  of  Mr.  Daniel  Berkeley  Updike, 
of  Boston. 

616  '■'■John  Still  Winthropj  of  New  London." 

John  Still  Winthrop  was  born  January  15,  1720,  and 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1737,  being  a  son  of  John 
Winthrop  (born  August  26,  1681),  a  grandson  of 
Wait-Still  Winthrop  (born  February  27,  1643),  and 
a  great-grandson  of  John  Winthrop  the  younger,  gov- 
ernor of  Connecticut.  (See  Proceedings  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Historical  Society^  February,  1874,  pp.  249,  250.) 
Inasmuch  as  Mary  Winthrop  was  married  to  Joseph 
Wanton  (afterwards  governor)  as  early  as  1729,  their 
eldest  son  being  born  February  8,  1730  (Note  609), 
it  seems  evident  that  she  could  not  have  been  a  daughter 


282  Notes 

of  John  Still  Winthrop,  although  she  may  have  been 
his  older  sister. 

617  ^'' 'Three  sons  and  five  daughters." 

Mr.  Bartlett,  in  his  Historical  TraSl^  upon  the  Wanton 
family,  gives  the  children  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Wan- 
ton in  a  somewhat  different  order  from  that  in  the  text, 
making  Catharine  the  fourth  child  and  Ann  the  eighth. 
If,  however,  Ann  is  correctly  stated  to  have  been  born 
in  1 734, she  could  not  be  placed  lower  than  fourth.  The 
fadi  that,  in  both  lists,  the  sons,  in  accordance  with  the 
custom  of  that  age,  are  all  given  before  the  daughters, 
suggests,  however,  that  neither  may  be  presented  in  a 
stri6lly  chronological  order. 

618  '"'■Joseph  was  an  Episcopal  clergyman." 

As  Mr.  Bartlett  appears  to  have  proved  (Note  609)  that 
Governor  Joseph  Wanton's  son  Joseph  was  the  one 
who  was  deputy  governor  in  1764  and  1767,  beside 
being  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, it  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  evidence  of  his  hav- 
ing been  also  an  Episcopal  clergyman  in  England  is  not 
given,  the  theory  seeming  somewhat  inconsistent  with 
the  other  fails.  Mr.  Bartlett  relates  that  the  estates  of 
both  the  Joseph  Wantons,  father  and  son,  by  reason  of 
their  toryism^  were  confiscated  and  sold.  Joseph  Wan- 
ton, junior,  is  continually  recorded  as  a  vestryman  or 
warden  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport,  from  1756  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  in  1780.  He  married,  as  his  second 
wife,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Jahleel  Brenton,  January  22, 
1775,  later  Mrs.  William  Atherton. 

619  '■'■  Gurdon." 

Gurdon  Saltonstall,  eldest  child  of  Winthrop  Salton- 
stalP"'"''"'  and  Ann  (Wanton), his  wife,married  Han- 
nah Sage,  of  Middletown,  Connedlicut.  His  parents 
were  cousins,  Winthrop  Saltonstall  (born  1737)  being 
a  grandson  of  Governor  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  of  New 
London,  from  whom  the  subje(^  of  this  Note  received 
his  name. 


Notes  283 

620  "  JVinthropy 

The  second  child  of  Winthrop  and  Ann  Saltonstall  be- 
came a  physician,  went  to  the  West  Indies  and  died, 
young  and  unmarried,  of  the  yellow  fever. 

621  ^^  Rebecca'* 

The  eldest  daughter  of  Winthrop  and  Ann  Saltonstall 
married  Peter  Christopher,  of  New  London,  and  lived 
beyond  the  age  of  ninety  years. 

622  ''The  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Coil,  D.Br 

Thomas  Winthrop  Coit,  son  of  Dr.  Thomas  and  Mary 
Wanton  Coit,  of  New  London,  was  born  in  that  town 
June  28,  1 803,  and  died  in  Middletown,  Connecticut, 
June  21,  1885.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1 8 2 1 , 
and  became  re6lor  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Salem,  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  of  Christ  Church,  Cambridge,  in  the 
same  State,  before  going  to  New  Rochelle.  Nearly 
twenty-five  years  of  the  latter  portion  of  Dr.  Coit's  life 
were  passed  as  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Troy,  New 
York.  For  a  short  period  he  was  a  professor  in  Trinity 
College,  Hartford,  and  president  of  Transylvania  Uni- 
versity, Lexington,  Kentucky.  In  1854,  he  was  ap- 
pointed lecturer  on  ecclesiastical  history  in  Berkeley  Di- 
vinity School,  Middletown,  Connecticut,  discharging 
his  duties  there,  in  connection  with  his  pastoral  work, 
but  finally  removing  thither  in  1872  to  make  instruc- 
tion his  principal  occupation.  Dr.  Coit  was  one  of  the 
ripest  scholars  and  ablest  writers  in  the  Church,  and  left 
numerous  works  of  great  value.  He  married  Eleanor 
Forrester,  in  1828,  and  had  three  children. 

623  ''Rev.  Gurdon  S.  Coit.** 

Of  the  eight  children  of  Dr.  Thomas  Coit,  of  New 
London,  the  Rev.  Gurdon  Saltonstall  Coit,  D.D.,  was 
the  youngest.  In  addition  to  the  charge  of  St.  John's 
Church,  Bridgeport,  he  was  later  red:or  successively 
at  West  Haven,  Naugatuck,  and  Southport,  all  in  Con- 
necticut. He  died  about  1870.  The  third  child  of  Dr. 
Thomas  Coit  was  Augusta  Dudley.,  whose  name  attests 
the  relationship  of  the  Coits  with  the  Dudley  family, 


284  Notes 

as  noted  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  W.  Coit,  in  1846. 
The  mother  of  Thomas  Coit,  M.D.,  was  a  Grey,  of 
Newport. 

624  ^^  Mary  married  Captain  John  Coddingtony 
This  marriage  occurred  January  28, 1759.  Captain  and 
Mrs.  Coddington  had  six  children:  (i)  Jane,  who  mar- 
ried, August  28,  1785,  Martin  Benson,  of  Newport, 
"Governor  of  Goree,"  and  died  in  Newport,  Decem- 
ber 6,  1836.  (2)  Mary.  (3)  Susan,  who  married  John 
Greene,  of  Newport,  and  had  two  children,  John  and 
Mary.  (4)  Joseph  Wanton.  (5)  William.  (6)  John. 

625  ^'■John  Coddington^  of  Newport" 

John  Coddington  (born  06lober  23,  1728)  was  a  son 
of  Colonel  William  Coddington,  of  Newport,  and  Jane 
(or  Jean),  a  daughter  of  the  well-known  Gabriel  Ber- 
non.  He  was  a  great-grandson  of  Governor  William 
Coddington,  who  emigrated  to  Boston  in  1630,  subse- 
quently removing  to  Newport  and  assisting  to  form  the 
first  settlement  there.  Captain  John  Coddington  is  said 
to  have  been  lost  at  sea  in  1762,  but  that  date  is  evi- 
dently too  early,  if  the  date  of  his  marriage,  January  28, 
1759  (after  which  he  had  six  children),  is  corre6l. 

626  "Thomas  JVickham,  of  Newport." 

Thomas  Wickham  (born  1736)  was  a  son  of  Captain 
Thomas  Wickham,  of  Newport,  who,  together  with 
his  brothers  Samuel,  Benjamin,  and  Charles,  was  pro- 
minent in  Trinity  Church  and  a  member  of  Redwood 
Library,  at  its  incorporation.  All  the  brothers,  too,  had 
the  title  of  Captain, and  Samuel, Thomas, and  Benjamin 
appear,  from  Dr.  MacSparran's  Diary ^  to  have  been  on 
the  most  familiar  terms  with  him.  Thomas  Wickham, 
junior,  was  a  warden  of  Trinity  Church  as  early  as 
1770,  and  served  as  a  vestryman  of  the  parish,  until  the 
close  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

627  '■^ Ruth  married  William  Brown." 

Ruth  Wanton  was  evidently  a  namesake  of  her  grand- 
mother, Ruth  Bryant,  the  first  wife  of  Governor  Wil- 


*  Notes  285 

Ham  Wanton.  A  large  number  of  the  descendants  of 
Governor  and  Mrs.  Brown  (or  Browne)  are  still  living 
in  the  Bermudas,  forming  the  extensive  and  prominent 
Tucker  family  of  the  islands. 

"  Catharine.'' 

Catharine  Wanton's  first  husband  was  Robert  Stod- 
dard, a  storekeeper  in  Newport,  to  whom  she  was  mar- 
ried November  29,  1767.  There  is,  in  the  register  of 
Trinity  Church,  a  record  of  the  previous  marriage  of 
Mr.  Stoddard,  Odober  18,  1756,  to  Mary  Pease.  After 
the  marriage  of  Mrs.  Stoddard  and  Dr.  Destailleur, 
they  removed  to  Canada.  The  fine  portraits  of  Gover- 
nor Joseph  Wanton  and  "Lady"  Wanton,  now  in  the 
Rhode  Island  Historical  Society's  Cabinet  in  Provi- 
dence, were  formerly  in  the  possession  of  a  descend- 
ant,— a  Mrs.  Destailleur,  who  lived  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  New  Forest  in  Hampshire. 

"  The  chair  in  which  Dean  Berkeley  used  to  sit'' 
Information  concerning  the  chair  is  contained  in  a  let- 
ter of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hallam  to  Mr.  Updike,  written 
June  22, 1 846.  When  New  London  was  burned  by  the 
British,  under  Benedi6t  Arnold,  in  September,  1781, 
Mrs.  Ann  Saltonstall's  furniture  was  destroyed,  and  her 
brother,  William  Wanton,  of  Newport,  with  an  ap- 
parent view  of  helping  to  repair  her  loss,  sent  her,  pre- 
sumably with  other  useful  articles,  this  antique  chair. 
Mrs.  Saltonstall's  death  occurring  only  two  or  three 
years  later,  her  husband,  Winthrop  Saltonstall,  went 
to  live  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Dr.  Coit,  carrying  the 
chair  along  with  him  and  allowing  it,  after  his  death, 
to  pass  to  his  grandson,  Thomas  Winthrop  Coit.''"  In 
those  days  it  was  painted  yellow,  but  is  now  of  a  dark 
brown  colour.  It  is  kept  in  the  library  or  the  president's 
room  of  Trinity  College,  Hartford,  to  which  it  was  given 
by  Dr.  Coit,  and  is  regularly  brought  out  on  Com- 
mencement Day,  for  the  use  of  the  president  during  the 
public  exercises  and  while  he  is  conferring  degrees.  An- 
other antique  chair  which  belonged  to  Dean  Berkeley 
is  preserved  by  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 


286  Notes 

It  was  purchased  at  the  sale  of  Bishop  Berkeley's  efFefts 
by  Timothy  Cutler,  D.D.,  first  re6lorof  Christ  Church, 
Boston,  who  was  at  that  time  in  England  to  obtain  Holy 
Orders.  It  is  said  to  have  been  made  in  Rome  under 
the  dire6lion  of  the  Dean  and  (according  to  Dr.  Cutler) 
was  modelled  on  the  antique  ivory  chairs  used  by  the 
curule  aediles.  An  illustration  accompanies  the  ac- 
count given  of  it  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society  for  1855-8  (pp.  24-5). 

630  "//«?  went  to  England  for  orders.'' 

A  letter  of  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Miller,'*""  re6tor  at  Brain- 
tree,  Massachusetts,  introducing  Mr.  Bass  to  the  So- 
ciety in  London,  attests  the  excellent  reputation  of  the 
candidate  for  orders,  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  illus- 
trates the  haunting  fear  of  small-pox  ^°^  on  the  part  of 
American  visitors  to  England.  It  is  as  follows:  "The 
bearer,  Mr.  Bass,  is  a  young  gentleman  bred  at  Har- 
vard College,  and  has  preached  for  some  time  among  the 
dissenters  to  good  acceptance,  but  now,  upon  mature 
consideration,  thinks  it  is  his  duty  to  conform  to  the 
Church  of  England,  and  come  over  for  holy  orders,  and 
to  be  appointed  to  the  new  church  in  Newbury.  Both 
Mr.  Plant  and  the  people  are  highly  pleased  with  him, 
and,  indeed,  he  is  universally  well  spoken  of,  as  a  man 
of  piety  and  sense,  a  good  preacher  and  of  an  agreeable 
temper.  .  .  . 

*' There  is  one  thing,  in  particular,  wherein  he  desires 
your  assistance — viz.,  that  you  will  do  what  you  can  to 
despatch  his  business  speedily,  because  he  has  never  had 
the  small-pox,  which  he  is  fearful  of,  it  having  proved 
fatal  to  many  New  England  men  in  London.  .  .  . 

"  Mr.  Bass  is  a  distant  relation  of  mine  and  I  shall  es- 
teem the  favour  shown  as  an  addition  to  those  already 
conferred  on  me."  (Hawkins's  Historical  Notices^  pp. 
219-20.) 

631  "Dr.  Alden  Bradford" 

Alden  Bradford  (born  1765,  died  1843)  ^^^  ^  gradu- 
ate of  Harvard  College  in  1786,  a  tutor  in  that  insti- 
tution  for  several  years,  a  Congregational  pastor  in 


Notes  287 

Maine,  clerk  of  the  supreme  court  of  Massachusetts, 
a  bookseller  in  Boston,  secretary  of  state  for  the  com- 
monwealth, editor  of  the  Boston  Ga-zette^  and  a  prolific 
author.  The  work  alluded  to  in  the  text  is  his  Biographi- 
cal Notices  of  Distinguished  Alen  of  Massachusetts^  pub- 
lished in  1842,  the  year  before  the  author's  death,  an- 
other book,  New  England  Chronology^  i^.g'j-iSoo^  ap- 
pearing the  year  of  his  death.  His  principal  undertaking 
was  a  History  of  Massachusetts  from  1^6^  to  1820. 

''Dr.  Bass." 

Upon  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  Mr.  Bass  was 
persuaded  to  leave  out  the  prayer  for  the  King,  in  the 
public  services,  and  was  dismissed  from  the  employ- 
ment of  the  Society  for  alleged  disloyalty  to  the  British 
government.  With  such  help,  however,  as  he  could 
obtain  he  continued  the  services  of  the  Church  until 
the  war  was  over,remaining  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Newburyport,  after  he  became  Bishop  of  Massachu- 
setts and  to  the  end  of  his  life.  A  very  scholarly  and  in- 
teresting Life  of  Bishop  Bass^  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  D.  D.  Addison,  of  Brookline,  Massachusetts,  ap- 
peared in  1897. 

''Captain  Dudley  Salton stalls 
Commodore  Saltonstall  (born  in  New  London,  Sep- 
tember 8,  1738;  died  in  the  West  Indies  in  1796)  was 
a  son  of  Brigadier-General  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  a  grand- 
son of  Governor  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  and  a  brother  of 
Winthrop"'  (who  married  Ann  Wanton),  Roswell,"" 
and  Gilbert."^  He  commanded  the  Alfred  in  Commodore 
Ezek  Hopkins's  squadron,  in  February,  1776, and  was 
commodore  of  the  fleet  that  left  Boston  in  July,  1779, 
to  reduce  a  British  post  on  the  Penobscot  River,  the 
expedition  ending  in  disaster.  Saltonstall  afterwards 
commanded  the  privateer  Minerva ^znd  captured  among 
other  prizesthe//«««^^,  a  merchant  ship  bound  for  New 
York,  with  a  valuable  cargo.  Commodore  Saltonstall's 
family  removed  from  New  London  to  the  State  of  New 
York  many  years  ago,  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Walley, being 
a  resident  of  Brooklyn  sixty  years  since  (1905). 


288  Notes 

634    "Dr.  Levi  Wheaton^  of  Providence ^ 

Dr.  Wheaton  (born  in  Providence,  February  6,  1761 ; 
died  in  the  same  place,  August  29,  1851)  graduated 
at  Rhode  Island  College  (now  Brown  University)  in 
1782.  He  was  a  physician  at  Hudson,  New  York,  for 
ten  years  and  in  New  York  city  for  two  years,  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  Providence.  From  1 8 1 5 
to  1 828,  he  was  professor  of  the  theory  and  pra6lice  of 
medicine  in  Brown  University. 

^ZS    "^^  college  tutor y  Mr.  Howell" 

David  Howell  (born  in  New  Jersey,  January  i,  1747; 
died  in  Providence,  July  21, 1824)  was  a  tutor  in  Rhode 
Island  College  (Brown  University)  from  1 766  to  1 769, 
professor  of  natural  philosophy  from  1769  to  1779, 
and  professor  of  jurisprudence  from  1790  to  1824,  be- 
ing also  adting  president  in  1 791-2.  It  is  evident  that  Dr. 
Wheaton  speaks  rather  loosely  in  calling  Mr.  Howell 
tutor^  at  the  particular  date  when  he  was  in  college,  in 
1778-82.  Mr.  Howell  was  also  a  member  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  a  justice  of  the  supreme  court,  and  an 
attorney-general  of  Rhode  Island. 

62,^    '■^The  wise  son  of  Sir  achy 

Dr.  Babcock  would,  perhaps,  have  experienced  some 
difficulty  in  designating  the  exa6t  chapter  and  verse  in 
the  book  of  Ecclesiasticus  where  this  passage  is  found.  It 
was  probably  a  somewhat  quizzical  adaptation  of  Ze- 
chariah  iv.  10. 

637    ^^Mr.  John  Bours^  of  Newport." 

There  is  no  other  name  which  occurs  so  frequently  in 
the  Annals  of  Trinity  Church.,  Neiuport^  as  that  of  John 
Hours.  From  Easter  Monday,  1765,  when  he  was 
elected  "  the  younger  Church  Warden,"  to  Easter  Mon- 
day, 181 1,  when  he  formally  declined  any  further  elec- 
tion as  a  church  officer,  on  account  of  "the  infirmities 
incident  to  his  period  of  life,  added  to  very  ill  health," 
he  was  constantly  clerk  of  the  vestry, vestryman, orwar- 
den.  Few  of  the  aitivities  of  the  church  proceeded 
during  that  period  without  Mr.  Bours's  very  efficient 


Notes  289 

and  devoted  cooperation.  For  five  years,  while  the  par- 
ish was  without  a  re<5lor,  he  officiated  as  a  lay  reader, 
receiving,  under  the  signature  of  Francis  Malbone,  war- 
den, the  unanimous  sincere  thanks  of  the  congrega- 
tion. The  proposal  that  he  should  enter  into  Holy  Orders 
and  become  the  minister  of  the  church,  Mr.  Bours, 
however,  reluctantly  but  firmly  declined.  After  a  most 
useful  life  he  passed  away,  July  26,  1 8 1 5,  in  the  eighty- 
first  year  of  his  age.  It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Bours  was 
a  son  of  Peter  Bours,  senior,^^'  who  died  in  1761,  and, 
if  so, a  younger  brother  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Bours,^^' some- 
time reClor  of  St.  Michael's  Church,  Marblehead.  The 
town  record  of  the  family  is  only  fragmentary. 

638  ''Gilbert  Saltonstalir 

In  referring,  a  page  or  two  above,  in  the  text,  to  Dr. 
Babcock's  "  three  sons  and  two  daughters,"  Dr.  Wheaton 
was  not  stri6lly  accurate,  as  was  not  strange,  after  the 
passage  of  sixty-five  years,  when  the  writer  himself  had 
reached  the  age  of  eighty-four.  But  he  had  already  men- 
tioned Mrs.  John  Bours  and  Mrs.  Dudley  Saltonstall 
as  daughters  of  the  Doctor  and  here  added  Mrs.  Gilbert 
Saltonstall.  As  a  fa6l.  Dr.  Babcock  and  Hannah  (Stan- 
ton),his  wife  (married  August  I  i,i735),hadfive  daugh- 
ters, Hannah,  Frances,  Amelia,  Harriet,  and  Sally,  all  of 
whom  may  not,  however,  have  been  living  at  the  date 
of  Dr.  Wheaton's  acquaintance  with  the  family.  In  ad- 
dition to  Harry,  Luke,  and  Adam,  already  named,  there 
was  also  a  son  Paul. 

Gilbert  Saltonstall  (born  1 752)  was  a  younger  brother 
of  Winthrop,"^  Dudley,"^  and  Roswell^"  (born  1741), 
a  son  of  Brigadier-General  Gurdon  Saltonstall  and  a 
grandson  of  Governor  Gurdon  Saltonstall.  He  married 
Harriet,  the  fourth  daughter  of  Dr.  Babcock,  Mrs.  Dud- 
ley Saltonstall  being  Frances,  the  second.  A  grand- 
daughter of  Gilbert  and  Harriet,  Miss  Harriet  Babcock 
Saltonstall,  was  living  in  New  London  in  1846. 

639  '"The  venerable  Samuel  Ward." 

Samuel  Ward  (born  in  Newport,  May  27,  1725;  died, 
scarcely  old  enough  to  be  venerable.,  in  Philadelphia, 


290  Notes 

March  26,  1776)  was  a  son  of  Richard  Ward,  colo- 
nial governor  of  Rhode  Island.  In  early  life  he  removed 
to  Westerly,  Rhode  Island.  In  1 761,  he  was  appointed 
chief  justice  of  the  colony, and  in  1 762,  1 765,  and  1 766 
was  ele61:ed  governor.  He  was  a6live  in  the  founding 
of  Rhode  Island  College  and,  in  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, uniformly  advocated  the  most  patriotic  measures. 

640  '■^ 'Thomas  Carter^  for  the  murder  of  Jackson.'' 

An  account  of  this  cause  ceVebre  of  the  day  in  the  Colony 
of  Rhode  Island  is  given  in  Updike's  Metnoirs  of  the 
Rhode  Island  Bar  (pp.  58-62,  note).  It  was  in  connec- 
tion with  this  case  that  Dr.  MacSparran,  in  1751, 
preached  at  the  court,  on  Tower  Hill,  before  the  con- 
demned murderer,  his  curious  sermon  (now  deposited 
in  the  registry  of  the  diocese)  from  the  text  (St. 
Matthew  v.  21),  "Ye  have  heard  that  it  was  said  by 
them  of  old  time.  Thou  shall  not  kill^''  in  which  he  seeks 
to  establish  the  proposition  that  "murder  is  an  adt  of 
excessive  mischief  and  cruelty  to  our  neighbour."  A  pa- 
per which  is  apparently  the  "  dying  confession  "  of  Car- 
ter, with  interlineations  by  Dr.  MacSparran,  is  in  the 
Updike  Colle6tion  of  Autographs  in  the  Providence 
Public  Library. 

641  "*S'o  severely  affe5fed  by  a  fit  of  sickness T 

The  following  aftion,  in  view  of  this  afFe6lion,  was  taken 
by  the  General  Assembly  in  May,  1776:  "Whereas  it 
hath  incontestably  appeared  to  this  Assembly  that  Henry 
Babcock,  Esq.,  Colonel  of  a  regiment  in  the  service  of 
this  Colony,  is,  at  times,  deprived  of  the  perfe6l  use  of 
his  reason  and  thereby  rendered  unfit  to  command,  It  is 
Voted  and  Resolved  that  the  said  Henry  Babcock  be  and 
he  is  hereby  dismissed  from  the  Command  of  the  said 
regiment  and  that  office  is  hereby  declared  vacant." 

642  ^'■Mrs.  William  F  aimer  ^  of  New  York'' 

Mr.  J.  Hammond  Trumbull,^"°  in  a  letter  from  Sto- 
nington,  dated  0(£lober  10,  1845,  observes:  "The  por- 
trait of  Colonel  Babcock  has,  until  within  a  ^^w  months 
past,  remained  at  Stonington,  in  the  possession  of  Mrs. 


Notes  291 

Lucy  Babcock  (widow  of  his  son,  Major  Paul),  and  at 
the  house  of  her  daughter,  Afrs.  Nathaniel  Palmer.  .  .  . 
Captain  Nathaniel  Pahiier  will  be  here  in  the  course  of 
a  fortnight."  This  picture  now  (1907)  belongs  to  Mr. 
Irving  Babcock,  of  New  York,  and  is  reproduced  in 
this  work. 

643  "Major  [Benjamin]  Brenton." 

Jahleel  Brenton  (born  1655,  died  1732),  son  of  Gov- 
ernor William,  in  his  will,  made  July  2,  1731,  and 
proved  November  13,  i  732,  bequeathed  to  his  nephew 
.  Ebenezer,  son  of  Ebenezer  Brenton,  his  nephew  Ben- 
jamin, son  of  William  Brenton,  and  two  cousins  named 
Church,  several  trails  of  land  in  South  Kingstown,  in 
severalty,  together  with  one  thousand  acres  lying  partly 
in  North  Kingstown  and  partly  in  South  Kingstown, 
apparently  in  common.  Ebenezer,  known  as  Major.^'^^ 
lived  until  1 766.  Benjamin  outlived  his  uncle  but  a  few 
years,  dying  previously  to  March,  1 740,  when  his  only 
son,  Benjamin  (born  06lober  16,  17 10), — the  Major 
Benjamin  of  this  Note, — in  order  to  recover  certain 
land,  brought  a  suit,  in  which  he  is  described  as  "Ben- 
jamin Brenton,  only  son  and  heir  of  Benjamin  Bren- 
ton, eldest  son  of  William  Brenton,  one  of  the  sons 
of  William  Brenton,  Sr."  Major  Benjamin  Brenton,  as 
seen  by  the  entry  in  the  text,  died  in  the  same  year  as 
his  father's  cousin  and  coheir.  Major  Ebenezer.  An  ac- 
count of  Major  Benjamin's  brother  Jahleel  and  of  some 
of  his  twenty-two  children  will  be  found  in  Note  415. 

644  ''"the  Rev^  Dollar  CanerT 

Dr.  Henry  Caner  was,  at  the  date  of  this  convention, 
reftorofKing's  Chapel  (sometimes  called  Stone  Chapel), 
Boston.  He  was  born  in  (or  about)  1770,  probably  in 
England.  It  is  likely  that  his  parents  emigrated  to  Ame- 
rica, as  he  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1724.  Soon 
after  his  graduation  he  began  to  read  theology  under 
the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Johnson,""^  of  Strat- 
ford, Connecticut.  In  the  spring  of  1727,  he  went  to 
England  for  Holy  Orders,  and  was  appointed  mission- 
ary of  the  S.  P.  G.  at  Fairfield,  Connecticut.  During 


292  Notes 

twenty  years  he  continued  to  labour  with  the  most  sat- 
isfa6lory  fruits  in  that  place,  as  well  as  in  a  new  sta- 
tion, which  he  early  established  at  Norwalk,  and  in  an- 
other at  Stamford.  In  April,  1747,  Mr.  Caner  became 
re6tor  of  King's  Chapel,  as  noted  above,  continuing 
there  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  In 
1766,  he  received  the  degree  of  Do61:or  of  Divinity 
from  the  University  of  Oxford.  Adhering  to  the  Brit- 
ish government,  he  proceeded  in  1 776  to  England,  and 
received  from  the  S.  P.  G.  an  honorary  appointment 
to  the  vacant  mission  at  Bristol,  Rhode  Island,  holding 
it  until  1782,  although  it  is  not  probable  that  he  ever 
visited  the  town.  (Munro's  History  of  Bristol^  p.  151.) 
Having  regard  to  his  long  and  faithful  service,  the  So- 
ciety continued  his  salary  at  £bo  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  at  Long  Ashton,  Somersetshire,  in  1792,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-two.  On  account  of  Dr.  Caner's  early 
entry  into  the  ministry  and  his  long  service,  he  has  been 
styled  "  the  Father  of  the  American  clergy."  His  brother 
Richard  was  a  clergyman  settled  at  Fairfield  and  other 
Connecticut  towns.  Another  allusion  to  Dr.  Caner  will 
be  found  in  a  note  of  America  DisseSied  (Appendix  A). 
There  is  a  curious  tradition  that  some  of  the  sacramental 
plate  of  King's  Chapel  was  preserved  in  a  branch  of  the 
Caner  family,  for  restoration  to  its  original  use,  when  the 
Chapel  should  return  to  the  Anglican  Communion,  as 
a  proof  of  the  high  and  holy  influence  exerted  there  by 
the  patriarch  for  the  period  of  a  generation.  In  addition 
to  a  large  number  of  other  sermons  of  Dr.  Caner  which 
were  printed,  there  was  one  entitled  The  True  Nature 
and  Method  of  Christian  Preaching  Examined  and  Stated. 

645    ^'■'The  Rev.  Mr.  Greaton.'" 

The  Rev.JamesGreaton,  perhaps  a  son  of  JohnGreaton, 
of  Roxbury,  and  if  so  probably  an  elder  brother  of  Briga- 
dier-General John  Greaton,  of  the  Revolutionary  army, 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1 754.  He  was  ordained 
by  the  Bishop  of  London  in  1760,  and  became  curate 
to  Dr.  Cutler,  in  Christ  Church,  Boston.  After  the 
death  of  the  DoClor,  Mr.  Greaton  was  appointed  by  the 


Notes  293 

Society  to  the  vacant  mission,  a  position  which,  how- 
ever, he  shortly  resigned.  From  1769  until  his  death, 
in   1773,  he  was  settled  at  Huntington,  New  York. 

646  "-The  Rev.  Mr.  Lyons." 

The  Rev.  John  Lyon  was  the  first  resident  minister 
of  the  church  in  Taunton,  remaining  there  from  1764 
to  1769,  and  marrying,  during  his  residence,  Helen 
(Baylies)  Walker,  the  most  prominent  Churchwoman 
in  the  parish.  In  1769,  harassed,  as  it  is  supposed,  by 
the  temper  of  the  times,  he  surrendered  his  excellent 
work  at  Taunton  and  removed  to  the  South.  He  had 
not  previously  been  a  missionary  of  the  London  So- 
ciety, but  is  recorded,  in  the  S.  P.  G.  Digest,  as  having 
been  appointed,  in  that  year,  to  Lewes,  Delaware,  where 
he  remained  until  his  resignation,  in  1774,  when  here- 
moved  to  Virginia.  Bishop  Meade,  in  The  Old  Churches 
and  Families  of  Firginia^  remarks:  "The  first  minister 
on  any  of  our  lists  of  St.  George's  Parish,  in  Accomack, 
was  Rev.  John  Lyon  from  Rhode  Island,  who  was  in 
the  parish  in  the  year  1774  and  continued  there  during 
and  sometime  after  the  war.  Being  more  of  an  Eng- 
lishman than  an  American  in  his  feelings,  his  time  was 
very  uncomfortable  during  the  Revolution."  Mr.  Lyon 
lies  buried  in  the  church-yard  of  St.  George's.  The  Rev. 
John  Lyon  is  to  be  distinguished  from  the  Rev.  James 
Lyons,  itinerant  in  Connefticut  in  i  744  and  settled  at 
Brookhaven,  New  York,  1745-65. 

647  ''The  Rev.  Mr.  N.  T.  Bent:' 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  T.  Bent,  after  leaving  Taunton, 
was  connected  for  a  season  with  the  diocese  of  Maine. 
At  a  later  time  he  became  re6tor  of  All  Saints'  Church, 
Worcester,  Massachusetts,  and  finally  principal  of  a 
school  in  the  same  city,  dying  sometime  previously  to 
i860.  He  was  an  earnest  and  interesting  preacher  and 
a  polished  and  scholarly  gentleman. 

648  '■^George  Browne" 

The  statement  of  the  text  as  to  the  Scottish  origin  of 
the  South  Kingstown  family  of  Browns,  to  which  Gov- 


294  Notes 

ernor  George  belonged,  has  been  more  or  less  vigorously 
questioned,  in  the  absence  of  known  documentary  evi- 
dence attesting  the  tradition.  Mr.  Austin  {^Genealogical 
Dictionary  of  Rhode  Island^  p.  260),  under  "Jeremiah 
Broiun^  third  son  of  Chad,  the  progenitor  of  the  Provi- 
dence family  of  Browns,  remarks,  "  Possibly  Samuel, 
Daniel  and  William  Brown  of  Kings-Town  were  his 
sons,  but  there  is  no  dire6l  evidence  to  show  it."  Mrs. 
Robinson,  however,  author  of  The  Hazard  Family  of 
Rhode  Island^  affirms  that,  in  certain  documents,  Daniel 
and  Samuel  Brown  call  themselves  sons  of  Jeremiah 
and  also  call  William  brother.  Nor  is  there  anything 
improbable  in  this  assertion.  Under  date  of  August  12, 
1889,  Mr.  Ray  Greene  Huling  writes: 

"While  at  Wickford  ...  I  happened  upon  the  record 
of  a  deed  which  shows  that  a  Daniel  Brown  sells  land 
to  his  brother  Samuel,  which  land  had  been  given  to 
Daniel  by  his  father  Jeremiah.  The  land  was  bounded 
S  by  John  Watson,  W  by  Henry  Gardner  and  E  by 
the  footpath  or  highway.  [Dated  Apl  26 — year  burned 
off.  The  opposite  page  is  dated  17 10.] 

"  Daniel  Brown  was  a  Surveyor.  He  bought  into  the 
Shannock  purchase  in  1709." 

Jeremiah  Brown  was  not  born  until  after  the  arrival 
of  his  parents  in  Boston,  in  1638,  inasmuch  as  Chad 
Brown  deposed  that  he,  his  wife  Elizabeth,  and  his  son 
John  then  landed  from  the  ship  Martin.  He  removed 
from  Providence  to  Newport,  and  was  living  there  at 
some  time  between  1660  and  1669, since  he  let  his  boat 
to  bring  down  people  from  Providence,  upon  the  order 
of  Governor  William  Brenton,  the  limits  of  whose  two 
terms  were  the  above  years.  (Rhode  Island  Colonial 
Records,  ii.  366.) 

Jeremiah  Brown's  only  recorded  child,  probably  by 
his  first  wife,  Mary,  was  James,  the  date  of  his  birth 
being  unknown.  But  about  1680  he  was  married,  a  sec- 
ond time,  to  Mary  Cook,  widow  of  Thomas,  and  had, 
by  her,  presumably,  Samuel,  Daniel,  and  William.  In 
i687,hewas  paying  taxes  in  Kings  Town, and  in  1690, 
the  year  of  his  death,  "  was  appointed,  by  the  Assem- 


Notes  295 

bly,  to  proportion  Kingstown's  part  of  money  for  the 
FrenchandIndianWar."In  i69i,Mary  Brown, widow 
of  Jeremiah,  had  ninety  acres,  at  East  Greenwich,  laid 
out  to  her. 

In  06lober,  1702,  Samuel  Brown  (born  probably 

about  1 681)  was  married,  in  Kings  Town, to  Mary , 

by  whom  he  had  nine  children.  The  fa6l  that  he  named 
his  eldest  son  Jeremiah  lends  colour  to  the  theory  that 
he  was  a  son  of  the  original  Brown  of  that  name.  Sam- 
uel Brown  was  repeatedly  a  church  warden  of  St.  Paul's 
and  frequently  appears  in  Dr.  MacSparran's  Diary. 

In  November,  1707,  William  Brown  (born  proba- 
bly about  1685)  was  married,  as  noted  in  the  text,  to 
Elizabeth  Robinson,  by  whom  he  had  seven  or  eight 
children.  Of  these,  the  sixth,  Robert  (born  July  26, 
I7i8),was  married,  August  29, 1745,  to  Sarah  Frank- 
lin, a  daughter  of  Abel,  of  Newport,  and  a  niece  of 
Benjamin  Franklin,  having  by  her  four  children,  of 
whom  George,  the  future  deputy  governor,  was  the  eld- 
est. Their  father  as  well  as  their  mother  and  stepmo- 
ther having  died  while  these  children  were  under  age, 
they  were  left  to  the  guardianship  of  their  uncle,  Tho- 
mas, third  child  of  William  Brown.  Governor  Brown's 
daughter  Hannah  became  the  wife  of  Rouse  Babcock, 
of  Westerly,  January  13,  1801,  leaving  several  chil- 
dren. William  Brown  is  said  to  have  attached  a  final  e  to 
his  name,  in  all  documents,  although  the  other  members 
of  the  family  do  not  appear  to  have  followed  his  example. 

649    ^^ William  Robinson's'' 

Deputy  Governor  William  Robinson  married,  as  his  sec- 
ond wife,  Mrs.  Abigail  (Gardiner)  Hazard,  an  older  sis- 
ter of  Mrs.  MacSparran.  It  was  their  second  son,  Wil- 
liam Robinson  (born  August  i,  1729),  at  whose  house 
the  marriage  of  George  Brown  to  his  daughter  Hannah 
occurred.  As  Robert  Brown,  father  of  George,  was  a 
first  cousin  of  William  Robinson,  the  bride  and  groom 
were,  as  stated  in  the  text.,  second  cousins .  It  is  not,  how- 
ever, quite  so  clear  how  they  were  also  first  cousins. 
William  Robinson  is  said,  but  apparently  on  insufficient 


296  Notes 

evidence,  to  have  married,  in  1752,  Hannah  Brown, 
vi'ho  would  have  had  to  be  a  sister  of  Robert  if  their 
children  were  first  cousins,  but  the  name  of  Hannah  is 
not  found  among  the  children  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth Brown,  the  parents  of  Robert.  It  is  also  asserted, 
upon  good  authority,  that  William  Robinson  married 
Elizabeth,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Philip  and  Hannah 
(Rodman)  Wanton, of  Newport,  Hannah  (Mrs.  George 
Brown)  being  their  daughter.  In  this  case  the  theory  of 
her  being  first  cousin  to  her  husband  would  be  overset; 
but  it  may  be  that  that  assertion  was  erroneously  made. 
The  fa£t  that  the  father  of  the  bride,  at  the  time  of 
this  wedding,  was  only  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  is  a  cu- 
rious illustration  of  the  custom  of  early  marriages  in  old 
Narragansett. 

650  "Lieutenant-Governor  Samuel  J.  Potter." 
Samuel  John  Potter,  United  States  senator,  was  born 
in  Narragansett,  June  29,  1739,  and  died  in  Washing- 
ton, Distri6l  of  Columbia,  September  26  (or  0£to- 
ber  29),  1804.  In  May,  1790,  he  was  ele6ted  deputy 
governor  of  Rhode  Island  and  reclefted  until  May,  1 799, 
the  title  of  the  office  being  changed  during  his  last  year 
to  lieutenant-governor.  In  i8oo,  Mr.  Potter  was  again 
ele6led  to  the  position,  and  continued  to  hold  it  until 
1803.  In  the  latter  part  of  1802,  he  was  ele£led  to  the 
United  States  senate,  serving  less  than  two  years  before 
his  death. 

651  "Miss  Jane  Tweedy.'' 

The  house  of  John  and  William  Tweedy,  of  Newport, 
was,  previously  to  the  Revolution,  the  largest  importer 
of  drugs  in  the  American  colonies.  It  maintained  a 
branch  office  in  New  York,  where  dealers  could  ascer- 
tain the  prices  which  had  been  fixed  in  Rhode  Island. 
John  Tweedy  married  MaryTillinghast,  in  1732,  and, 
as  a  second  wife,  Freelove  S.  Crawford,  in  1735.  He 
is  said  to  have  died  in  1782,  as  did  also  his  partner, 
William.  William  Tweedy  married  a  daughter  of 
James  Honyman,"*^^  Esq.,  son  of  the  re6lor  of  Trinity 
Church.  Their  two  daughters  were  Mrs.  Francis  Mai- 


Notes  297 

bone  and  Miss  Catharine  Tweedy,  who  presented  to 
Trinity  Church,  in  18 16,  the  portrait  of  her  great- 
grandfather, the  Rev.  James  Honyman,  which  hangs 
in  the  vestry -room,  the  vestry  passing  a  vote  of  grate- 
ful acceptance  and  directing  the  clerk  to  "furnish  Miss 
Tweedy  with  a  copy  of  this  vote,  as  a  mark  of  our 
sincere  attachment  to  so  amiable  a  character  and  to  her, 
for  her  politeness  and  attention."  From  the  first  half 
of  the  eighteenth  century  the  Tweedy  family  was  pro- 
minent in  Trinity  parish.  It  is  probable  that  "  Miss 
Jane  Tweedy,"  the  bride  of  the  entry,  was  a  daughter 
of  John  Tweedy.  She  was  the  second  wife  of  "Mayor 
George  Hazard,"  to  whom  she  was  married,  as  noted 
in  the  text,  July  28,  1769.  Among  her  five  children 
were  Carder  (born  in  1774),  a  graduate  of  Rhode  Is- 
land College  and  an  affluent  merchant  of  Norwich, 
Connedlicut,  and  Nathaniel  (born  in  1776),  also  a  gra- 
duate of  Rhode  Island  College  and  a  representative  in 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  All  of  Mrs.  Jane 
Hazard's  sons  were  distinguished  for  their  noble  phy- 
sique and  great  personal  beauty  and  charm  of  manner, 
qualities  which  they,  no  doubt,  inherited  from  their 
mother. 

652  ^'■Mrs.  Maria  Hazard,  of  South  Kingstown." 
Watson  must  have  intended,  by  this  reference,  Mrs. 
Mary  Hazard,  grandmother  (not  mother)  of  Deputy- 
Governor  George  Hazard  and  widow  of  Robert  Ha- 
zard, whose  name  occurs,  just  below,  in  the  text.  At 
the  time  of  her  death,  in  i  739,  the  Boston  Gazette  re- 
marked of  her,"  She  was  accounted  a  very  useful  Gen- 
tlewoman both  to  the  Poor  and  Rich  on  many  accounts, 
and  particularly  amongst  Sick  Persons  for  her  Skill  & 
Judgment,  which  she  did  Gratis."  The  account  of  her 
great  age  and  multitudinous  progeny  is  well  attested. 

653  "'Thomas  Hazard  ^  who  emigrated  from  Wales." 
The  progenitor  of  the  American  Hazard  family  was 
born  in  161 0.  His  name  is  first  found  in  Boston,  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1635. In  1639,  he  signed  the  "compact" 
preparatory  to  the  settlement  of  Newport,  where  he 


298  Notes 

was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  town  and  one  of  its  first 
officers.  He  had  two  wives,  both  named  Martha,  and 
four  children,  and  died  in  1680. 

654   ^^ His  son,  Robert.'' 

Robert  Hazard,  only  known  son  of  the  emigrant  from 
the  United  Kingdom,  Thomas  Hazard  (mentioned  in 
the  last  Note),  was  born  in  1635,  and  died  not  earlier 
than  1 710.  Although  his  father  appeared  in  Boston  be- 
fore the  close  of  1 63  5,  it  is  believed  that  Robert  was  born 
in  the  Old  World  (it  is  said,  in  England  or  Ireland,  an 
important  family  bearing  the  name  still  existing  in  the 
latter  country).  In  1655,  Robert  Hazard  was  admitted 
a  freeman  of  the  town  of  Portsmouth,  Rhode  Island. 
In  1659,  or  a  little  earlier,  he  was  married  to  Mary,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Anne  Brownell.  In  1 671,  he 
bought  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  in  Kings  Town,  of 
the  Pettaquamscutt  Purchasers.  In  1693, he  called  him- 
self "late  of  Portsmouth,  now  of  Kings  Town." 

^SS    '^{_^ayor]  George  Hazard." 

The  remainder  of  the  article  from  the  Newport  Mer- 
cury of  August  15,  1797,  of  which  the  beginning  is 
given  in  the  text,  is  written  with  so  much  feeling  and 
evident  sincerity,  that  it  is  here  reproduced: 

"At  the  age  of  74  years  he  closed  a  long  and  poli- 
tical life,  in  which  he  had  no  other  obje6l  but  the  pub- 
lic Good  and  desired  no  other  reward  but  the  public 
Confidence.  Successively  Legislator  and  Judge,  ap- 
pointed to  compose  Laws  and  called  upon  to  administer 
them,  displaying  all  the  ease  of  native  Eloquence  with 
all  the  power  of  solid  Judgement, — without  Ambition 
and  without  vanity,  the  Honours  of  office  flowed  in 
upon  him,  unsolicited  and  undesired.  They  were  Ho- 
mage paid  to  virtue,  which  intreaties  alone  could  force 
him  to  accept  and  which  no  low  intrigue  was  pra6lised 
to  preserve.  At  a  period  of  life,  when  Nature,  almost 
exhausted,  seeks  refuge  in  retirement,  at  the  Age  of 
sixty  and  five  years,  he  engaged  in  a  novel,  in  a  deli- 
cate and  embarrassing  undertaking;  as  Mayor  of  New- 
port, he  sacrificed  his  own  to  the  general  interest  and 


Notes  299 

yielded  to  solicitation  when  acquiescence  became  al- 
most a  crime.  With  what  ability  and  firmness  he  per- 
formed the  duties  of  that  office,  let  recoIleiHon,  so  far 
as  it  can  trace  her  own  feelings,  so  far  as  they  have 
been  engaged,  inform  us. 

"Amid  the  Party  and  distress  of  that  period, — amid 
the  Violence  of  the  one  and  the  alarming  Apprehensions 
of  the  other,  he  entered  into  office  with  a  modest  Diffi- 
dence, and  in  its  execution  imparted  a  vigour  to  New- 
port. 

"Nor  were  the  Honours  of  public  life  forfeited  by  pri- 
vate Corruption.  If  in  politics  he  was  great,  in  domes- 
tic life  he  was  respectable,  mild,  affable,  prudent,  liberal, 
temperate;  scrupulously  just  and  unaffe6ledly  religious. 
Never  were  virtues  more  the  efFeil  of  feeling  and  less 
the  Consequence  of  legal  obligation.  He  was  moral 
from  the  diftates  of  Nature  and  not  from  the  cold  sug- 
gestions of  human  Policy." 

The  inscription  upon  the  monument  of  "Mayor 
George,"  evidently  composed  by  the  same  friend  who 
wrote  the  above  obituary  notice,  is  as  follows: 

SACRED 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF 

THE  HON.  GEORGE  HAZARD,  ESQ., 

WHO  WAS  BORN  JUNE  15,  1724 

AND  DIED  AUGUST   11,  1797. 

ALMOST  FORTY  YEARS  OF  HIS  LIFE 

WERE  SPENT 

IN  THE  SERVICE  OF  HIS  COUNTRY 

WITHOUT  AMBITION 

AND  WITHOUT  THE  HOPE  OF  REWARD. 

HE  ACCEPTED  THE  VARIOUS  IMPORTANT  OFFICES  OF 

LEGISLATOR,  JUDGE  &  MAYOR  OF  NEWPORT 

WITH  DIFFIDENCE 

AND  EXECUTED  THEM  WITH  ABILITY. 

656    "  I'homas  Cranston  and  Abraham  Redwood . . .  mar- 
ried sisters." 

It  is  said  that  Mrs.  Cranston  and  Mrs.  Redwood  were 
first  cousins  rather  than  sisters.  Joseph  and  Abraham 
Coggeshall  were  brothers.  Joseph's  daughter  Mary  was 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Cranston,  and  Abraham's  daughter 
Martha  the  wife  of  Abraham  Redwood.  Rebecca,  a 


300  Notes 

daughter  of  Benjamin  Coggeshall,  a  brother  of  Joseph 
and  Abraham,  became  the  wife  of  Robert  Taylor,  of 
Newport. 

657  '■'■For traits  of  Mr.  Cranston ^  his  wife^  and  daughter ^ 
.  .  .  by  Copley." 

The  portrait  of  the  Honourable  Thomas  Cranston  is  de- 
scribed as  "Three-quarters,  standing:  dressed  in  black 
velvet,  with  full  wig.  Hand  on  his  sword."  The  origin  of 
these  pidtures  has  been  discussed  in  Notes  378  and  380. 
All  three  of  them  are  among  the  illustrations  to  this  work. 

658  ''College  Tom:' 

A  very  interesting  and  complete  account  of  this  mem- 
ber of  the  Hazard  family  is  to  be  found  in  Thomas  Ha- 
%ard^  son  of  Rob'  calV d  College  Tom^  A  Study  of  Life  in 
Narragansett  in  the  XVIIP'  Century.^  By  His  Grandson  s 
Granddaughter^Cafoline  Hazard  (Bostonand'NewYorky 
1893).  Thomas  Hazard  (son  of  Robert,  grandson  of 
Thomas,  great-grandson  of  Robert,  and  great-great- 
grandson  of  Thomas)  was  born  September  15,  1720, 
and  died  in  1798.  The  institution  which  he  is  said  to 
have  entered,  and  from  which  he  is  supposed  to  have 
gained  his  sobriquet,  was  Yale  College.  He  was,  how- 
ever, one  of  the  original  petitioners  to  the  General 
Assembly  for  powers  to  found  a  college  or  university 
within  Rhode  Island  Colony,  and  was,  with  ten  others, 
declared  the  "first  and  present  Fellows  and  Fellowship, 
to  whom  the  President,  when  hereafter  eledied,  ,  .  . 
shall  be  joined  to  complete  their  number."  This  circum- 
stance also  has  been  very  plausibly  suggested  as  the  ori- 
gin of  the  title  "College  Tom."  The  name  of  Thomas 
Hazard  does  not  appear  in  the  list  of  regular  fellows 
or  trustees  of  the  college. 

659  ''John  JVoolman,  of  Mount  Holly:' 

This  famous  Quaker  preacher  was  born  in  Northamp- 
ton, New  Jersey,  in  August,  1720,  and  died  in  York, 
England,  06lober  7,  1772.  He  spent  a  great  part  of 
his  life  in  visiting  the  Friends  in  the  rear  settlements 
of  Virginia  and  in  the  Middle  States  for  the  purpose  of 


CyCc>»^y.'^-^^-<?»^,-^feJ  ~^)^i:^f^.Ji^>9ty 


/^'^Of^y^^^^y 


Notes  301 

preaching  and  speaking  against  slavery.  Mr.  Wool- 
man  visited  Narragansett  in  1748  and  again  in  1760, 
holding,  on  the  latter  occasion,  repeated  meetings  and 
going  "through  deep  exercises  that  were  mortifying 
to  the  creaturely  will,"  inasmuch  as  he  felt  impelled 
to  the  "unpleasant  task"  of  pleading  with  the  excel- 
lent Quakers  concerning  their  slaves.  It  was  while  at- 
tending a  quarterly  meeting  of  Friends,  in  England, 
that  the  preacher  and  philanthropist  met  the  frequent 
fate  of  American  visitors  to  that  country  in  the  eigh- 
teenth century,  by  taking  the  small-pox  and  dying  after 
a  very  few  days.  John  Woolman  published  a  large  num- 
ber of  religious  and  benevolent  works,  of  which  Some 
Considerations  on  the  Keeping  of  Negroes  may  be  men- 
tioned, but  the  Journal  of  John  IVoolman' s  Life  and  Tra- 
vels in  the  Service  of  the  Gospel  i?,  his  most  interesting  pro- 
du£l:ion.  It  is  a  proof  of  his  possessing  a  true  genius  for 
expression  that  the  writings  of  this  plain  Quaker  tailor, 
who  probably  never  had  a  thought  of  producing  litera- 
ture^ won  hearty  praise  from  that  past  master  of  the  art, 
Charles  Lamb. 

660  "Moses  Brown." 

This  Rhode  Island  phiIanthropist,youngest  of  the  "  Four 
Brothers,"  was  born  in  Providence, September  23, 1738, 
and  died  there  September  6,  1836.  Although  reared  a 
Baptist,  he  became  a  Friend  and  the  founder  of  the 
Yearly  Meeting  Boarding-School,  which  now  bears  his 
name.  In  1773,  he  proved  his  faith  by  his  works  in  be- 
ing among  the  first  to  manumit  all  his  slaves. 

661  "Jeremiah  Austin^ 

The  subjeit  of  this  Note,  among  the  seven  Jeremiah  Aus- 
tins said  to  have  been  living  in  southern  Rhode  Island 
at  this  period,  is  believed  to  have  been  one  of  three  born 
in  1730.  He  was  a  great-grandson  of  Robert,  who  died 
about  1 68  7  and  who  is  the  assumed  ancestor  of  the  Nar- 
ragansett Austins,  and  a  grandson  of  Jeremiah,  who  died 
in  1754.  He  was  probably  a  son  of  Robert,  who  died 
before  his  father,  in  1752,  although  Robert's  brother 
Jeremiah  also  had  a  son  Jeremiah  born  in  1730.  Both 


302  Notes 

the  brothers,  according  to  their  inventories,  were  poor 
men,  not  likely  to  have  been  able  to  leave  much  more 
than  a  single  slave  to  a  child.  In  1 765,  Jeremiah  Austin 
appears  upon  the  accounts  of  "  College  Tom,"  as  la- 
bouring at  mowing,  with  his  sons  as  helpers. 

662  '■'■William  T^.  Robinson T 

Mr.  Robinson^"  was  a  son  of  Thomas  (son  of  Deputy 
Governor  William  and  born  1 7  3 1 )  and  the  father  of  the 
beautiful  Mrs.  Mary  Hunter,  of  Newport.  He  is  intro- 
duced in  T.  R.  Hazard's  RecolleSiions  of  Olden  Times  as 
relating  an  amusing  anecdote. 

663  "Thomas  R.  [Hazard']:' 

Thomas  Robinson  Hazard  was  born  in  South  Kings- 
town, January  3,  1797,  and  died  in  New  York  city. 
He  united  sheep-raising  with  manufacturing  and  thus 
gained  his  well-known  sobriquet  of  "Shepherd  Tom." 
Soon  after  attaining  the  age  of  forty-one,  Mr.  Hazard 
retired  from  business  and  purchased  a  choice  estate  upon 
the  island  of  Rhode  Island,  where  he  passed  the  remain- 
der of  his  days.  His  RecolleSiions  of  Olden  Titnes  and  his 
Jonny-Cake  Papers^  although  not  always  to  be  taken  as 
sober  history,  evince  a  lively  imagination  and,  like  other 
poetical  productions,  are  perhaps  truer  than  the  truth. 
The  fa£t  that  the  RecolleSiions  were  issued  when  Mr. 
Hazard  was  over  eighty  years  of  age  lends  a  sunset 
charm  to  one  of  the  most  attractive  books  ever  written 
about  old  Narragansett.  Mr.  Hazard  married  Frances 
Minturn,-'''  of  New  York. 

664  '^Rowland  G\ihson  Hazard]:'' 

Mr.  Hazard  is  too  well  known,  as  possessing  one  of 
the  most  powerful  intellects  ever  produced  in  the  State 
of  Rhode  Island,  to  need  any  notice  in  this  connection. 
It  may  be  stated,  however,  to  complete  the  record  of  the 
family,  that  he  was  born  in  South  Kingstown,  Octo- 
ber 9,  1801,  and  died  June  24,  1888.  A  biographical 
sketch  of  Mr.  Hazard  has  been  prepared  by  his  grand- 
daughter, Miss  Caroline  Hazard,  and  prefixed  to  his 
collected  works. 


Notes  303 

66s    "'Joseph  P.  Hazard." 

Joseph  Peace  Hazard  was  born  February  17,  1807,  in 
Burlington,  New  Jersey,  where  his  parents  lived  for  a 
few  years.  For  all  but  the  first  twelve  years  of  his  life, 
however,  his  home  was  in  South  Kingstown.  In  his 
earlier  mature  years  he  was  engaged  in  manufaduring, 
but  soon  abandoned  it  for  travel,  during  more  than  a 
score  of  years,  in  many  foreign  lands.  He  began,  in 
1846,  the  ere6lion  of  what  is  known  as  "  Hazard  Cas- 
tle," near  Narragansett  Pier,  now  surmounted  by  a  mas- 
sive square  granite  tower.  In  the  spacious  grounds  around 
the  house  he  introduced  all  the  trees  which  he  could 
procure  in  different  regions  of  the  globe  and  acclima- 
tize in  Narragansett,  encouraging  the  native  birds  of 
this  sedion  of  America  to  dwell  unmolested  among 
their  branches.  Although  Mr.  Hazard  was  not  without 
some  eccentric  ideas  and  habits,  yet  in  his  nearness  to 
nature  and  his  sympathy  with  the  dumb  world  and  es- 
pecially with  birds  he  seemed  a  kinsman  of  Francis  of 
Assisi.  The  notices  of  this  old  Rhode  Island  family  are 
not  complete  without  a  reference  to  another  brother, 
William  Robinson  Hazard  (born  December  15,  1803), 
who  lived  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  to  four  daughters,  Eliza 
Gibson  Hazard  (born  1799),  Isabella  Wakefield  Hazard 
(born   1809),  Mary  Peace  Hazard  (born   18 14),  and 
Anna  Hazard  (born  1820),  all  unmarried.  Miss  Anna 
has  but  lately  (January,  1905)  died. 

666    '■'■Rowland  Hazard'' 

The  Quaker  love  of  plain  language  and  abhorrence  of 
heathen  names  for  days  and  months  are  strikingly  shown 
in  the  record  of  the  birth  of"  College  Tom's"  son  Row- 
land, on  "the  fourth  of  the  fourth  month,  second  day 
of  the  week,  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  1763." 
He  married,  in  1793,  Mary,  daughter  of  Isaac  Peace, 
and  in  her  honour  the  village  of  Peace  Dale,  where  he 
started  a  manufaauring  business,  was  named.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  textile  industry  which  has  developed  into 
the  Peace  Dale  Manufafturing  Company,  Rowland 
Hazard  had  also  shipping  interests.  Late  in  life  he  re- 


304  Notes 

moved  to  Pleasant  Valley,  New  York,  where  he  died 
July  I,  1835. 

667  ^^Virginia  'T'om" 

"Virginia  Tom"  was  a  first  cousin  of  "College  Tom," 
being  a  son  of  Jonathan,  younger  brother  of  Robert, 
the  father  of  the  latter.  He  was  born  February  22, 
1727,  and  died  April  27,  1804.  He  received  from  his 
father  a  fine  farm  in  Boston  Neck,  now  called  the 
"  Brown  Farm,"  but  early  removed  to  Newport.  The 
name  of  his  first  wife  was  Mary  Preeson  Bowdoin,  a 
daughter  of  Peter  Bowdoin,  of  Virginia,  this  fa£t  sup- 
plying him  his  by-name.  The  Virginia  Bowdoins  are 
descended  from  Jean  Bowdoin,  whose  younger  brother 
James  was  the  ancestor  of  the  New  England  branch 
of  the  family,  including  Governor  Bowdoin,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, the  patron  of  Bowdoin  College  in  Maine.  Mrs. 
Hazard  died,  after  about  fourteen  years  of  married  life, 
and  was  buried  upon  her  husband's  farm,  in  Narragan- 
sett.  The  following  is  the  inscription  upon  her  grave- 
stone: 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

MARY  B.  WIFE  OF  THOMAS  HAZARD 

AND 

DAUGHTER  OF  PETER  BOWDOIN,  ESQ., 

OF  VIRGINIA. 

DIED  APRIL  YE  17TH  1760, 

IN  YE   32D  YEAR  OF  HER  AGE  ; 

A  LOVING  AND  KIND  WIFE. 

Abigail  Hazard,  a  daughter  of  Mrs,  Mary  Bowdoin 
Hazard,  married  Walter  Watson,  and  became  the  mo- 
ther of  Isabella  Watson,  second  wife  of  John  J.  Wat- 
son, and  Abby  Watson,  wife  of  Wilkins  Updike,  thus 
making  the  Watsons  and  Updikes,  of  Boston  Neck 
and  Kingston,  descendants  of  Peter  Bowdoin,  of  Vir- 
ginia. Mrs.  Hazard's  remains  have  been  tenderly  re- 
moved from  the  Boston  Neck  farm  of  her  husband  to 
the  burying-ground  of  Wilkins  Updike,  in  the  vicinity. 

668  "Eunice  Rhodes,  of  Fawtuxet^ 

Eunice  Rhodes  (born  December  13,  1741)  was  the 
younger  daughter  of  William,  a  grandson  of  Zachariah 


I 


Notes  305 

Rhodes,  the  founder  of  the  family  in  Rhode  Island. 
Eunice  Rhodes's  grandfather,  John  Rhodes,  married 
Waite  Waterman,  a  granddaughter  of  Roger  Williams. 
William  Rhodes,  in  his  will,  proved  1772,  left  his 
daughter,  Eunice  Hazard,  half  of  a  farm  in  Scituate, 
two  hundred  dollars,  and  another  farm  till  her  son  Tho- 
mas Hazard  should  be  of  age. 

669  "  T^he  General  Assembly  humanely  dire5led  the  rents 

.  .  .  to  be  paid  to  her.'' 
The  vote  covering  this  concession  is  interesting  on  ac- 
count of  the  person  charged  with  its  execution:  "It  is 
further  voted  and  resolved  [February,  i  782] , that  Wil- 
liam Channing,^^''  Esq.,  be,  and  he  is  hereby  required 
and  dire6led  to  pay  unto  the  aforesaid  Eunice  Hazard 
the  amount  of  the  rents  for  the  year  past  of  the  house  and 
estate,  which  did  belong  unto  the  said  Thomas  Hazard, 
lying  in  Newport,  as  soon  as  he  shall  receive  the  same." 

670  '■^Jonathan  J.  Hazard.'" 

The  middle  letter  in  this  Jonathan  Hazard's  name  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  an  original  part  of  it,  nor  is  it 
found  except  in  a  signature  to  a  letter  in  The  Hazard 
Family  of  Rhode  Island.  It  probably  came  to  be  used 
simply  as  a  means  of  designating  that  this  Jonathan  Ha- 
zard, out  of  a  large  number  so  named  (there  are  more 
than  twenty  mentioned  in  the  above  work),  was  a  son 
of  a  Jonathan.  His  carefulness  in  dress  and  his  courtly 
manners  gave  him  the  sobriquet  of  "Beau  Jonathan." 
Being  a  brother  of  "Virginia  Tom,"  it  is  unnecessary 
to  repeat  here  his  line  of  descent.  He  was  born  about 
1 744,  and  died  after  18  24.  The  f/?^/r/«^  of  Mr.  Hazard, 
mentioned  in  the  text,  is  said  to  be  the  only  instance 
known  in  Rhode  Island  of  copying  the  old  English 
fashion  of  thus  treating  a  popular  leader. 

671  ''At  St.  Johns.'' 

This  is  not  the  city  of  St.  John's,  in  Newfoundland,  but 
the  Isle  St.  Jean.,  changed,  in  1800,  to  Prince  Edward 
Island,  as  now  known,  in  honour  of  the  Duke  of  Kent, 
the  father  of  Queen  Vi6toria. 


3o6  Notes 

672  "Mrj.  Walter  Watson'' 

Judging  from  the  profile  portrait  of  Abigail  Hazard,  eld- 
est daughter  of  "Virginia  Tom,"  given  in  this  book, 
she  was  not  one  whose  presence  and  influence  could 
be  safely  disregarded,  nor  one  whom,  judging  from  her 
bright  and  pleasant  expression,  any  one  would  wish  to 
disregard.  One  would  judge  that  she  shared,  in  no  small 
degree,  the  energy  of  her  father  and  the  Gallic  vivacity 
of  her  Huguenot  mother.  She  was  born  December  25, 
1 75 1,  married  Walter  Watson,  and  died  February  2, 
1 837.  In  addition  to  a  son,  Walter,  who  died  young,  she 
had  two  daughters,  mentioned  in  Note  6670 

673  "Mr,  Elisha  Watson'' 

Elisha  Watson  was  born  October  i,  1776,  and  died 
July  7,  1847.  Elisha  and  Ann  (Cole)  Watson  had  nine 
children,  of  whom  the  eldest  son,  the  late  Elisha  Wat- 
son, of  Wakefield,  Rhode  Island,  was  born  06lober  7, 
1808,  and  died  May  31,  1877. 

674  ''Ann  Cokr 

Ann  Cole  was  the  eldest  daughter  of  William  Cole,  son 
of  John  Cole  and  great-grandson  of  John'''  and  Susan- 
nah (Hutchinson)  Cole.  She  was  born  in  1785, and  died 
August  27,  1874.  Her  mother  was  Mary  (originally 
Susannah)  Hazard,  daughter  of  "Virginia  Tom." 

675  ''Ahhy  Watson^ 

Abigail  Watson,  daughter  of  Walter  and  Abigail  (Ha- 
zard) Watson,  was  born  January  22,  1792,  and  died 
March  31,  1843.  (^^^  sketch  of  Mr.  Updike  at  begin- 
ning of  this  work.) 

676  ''Welcome  Arnold T 

Welcome  Arnold  was,  in  his  day,  one  of  the  strong  men 
and  enterprising  merchants  of  Providence,  which  he 
frequently  represented  in  the  General  Assembly.  Be- 
tween 1780  and  1 795,  he  was  five  times  ele6led  speaker 
of  the  house  and  served  also  as  a  conservative  member 
of  the  paper  money  convention  of  1786, at  East  Green- 
wich. Soon  after  1772,  Mr.  Arnold  purchased  the  large 


Notes  307 

unfinished  house  which  had  been  occupied  by  James 
Sabin  as  an  inn,  and  in  which  the  plot  for  the  capture 
of  the  Gaspee  was  laid,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  South 
Main  and  Planet  streets,  Providence.  After  completing 
the  building,  he  lived  in  it,  until  his  death  in  1798.  It 
later  became  successively  the  residence  of  his  eldest  son, 
Samuel  G.  Arnold,  and  his  youngest  son.  Colonel  Rich- 
ard J.  Arnold,  being  finally  occupied  by  his  grandson, 
Samuel  G.  Arnold,  junior,  the  historian  of  Rhode  Island 
and  lieutenant-governor  of  the  State.  Upon  the  remodel- 
ling or  demolishing  of  the  ancient  house,  a  few  years 
since,  the  old  woodwork  around  the  fireplace  of  the 
dining-room  or  Gaspee  room,  and  all  the  interior  fin- 
ish of  the  apartment  were  removed  to  the  residence  of 
a  granddaughter  of  Welcome  Arnold,  Mrs.  William  R. 
Talbot,at"YoungOrchard,"Providence,wherearoom 
ofcorrespondingdimensions  was  constructed  fortheirre- 
ception.  (77?^  History  of  Rhode  Island^  by  Samuel  Greene 
Arnold,  ii.  312,523.) 

677    ''''Wolsey's  fall,  to  rise  no  more.^' 

As  the  causes  of  the  debacle  of  Jonathan  J.  Hazard  are 
so  little  ascertained  and  so  largely  founded  on  suspicion, 
it  seems  no  more  than  fair  to  present  a  letter,  in  respe6t 
to  the  matter,  written  by  him  to  a  relative,  Thomas  B. 
Hazard,  in  an  evidently  ingenuous  spirit  and  with  a 
transparent  consciousness  of  right.  The  document  was, 
no  doubt,  unknown  to  Mr.  Updike  when  he  wrote  the 
accompanying  narrative,  and  appears  to  have  been  first 
published  by  Mrs.  Robinson,  in  The  Ha%ard  Family  of 
Rhode  Island  (pp.  49,  50).  It  is  as  follows: 

f atnestown,  "June  f  I'i 
Dear  Kinsman: 

I  HAVE  thought  of  your  disappointment  in  not  being 
appointed  Judge.  You  may  be  assured  it  is  for  your 
advantage  that  you  are  not  chosen.  It  would  have  led 
you  further  into  political  matters,  than  you  are,  and  you 
have  already,  as  well  as  myself,  gone  too  far  on  that 
road. 

It  is  a  pleasing  thing,  while  everything  moves  with 


3o8  Notes 

success  and  we  are  flying  away  before  the  wind  and  the 
tide  of  prosperity,  and  every  one  that  meets  you  will 
greet  you  with  submission  and  reverence;  but  let  it  only 
be  in  the  power  of  these  very  men  that  you  have  served 
most,  to  sacrifice  you  to  their  own  advantage  and  you 
will  find  there  is  not  one  in  a  thousand  but  would  em- 
brace the  opportunity.  I  speak  from  experience.  The 
people  that  I  have  taken  the  most  pains  to  serve  have 
sacrificed  me,  as  far  as  lay  in  their  power.  That  is 
nothing  new,  it  was  ever  so  and  ever  will  be  so.  It  is 
the  greatest  misfortune  that  is  resident  to  man, that  lack 
of  resolution,  stability,  and  integrity.  Look  back  and  read 
the  history  of  the  world,  and  you  will  find  the  greatest, 
and  some  of  the  best  men  in  the  world,  have  been  brought 
to  the  block  by  traitorous  companions.  I  hope  you  will 
profit  by  this  little  disappointment,  and  avoid  thereby  a 
greater  mischief.  All  these  disappointments  are  bitter 
and,  of  course,  disagreeable,  but  as  they  are  suffered  for 
our  good,  we  ought  to  bear  them  with  that  manly  forti- 
tude that  becomes  great  minds.  I  have  been  principal 
a6lor  in  three  State  revolutions,  and  if  I  was  to  show 
you  the  history,  you  would  not  believe  it,  until  you 
paused,  for  I  have  been  thrice  sacrificed,  once  in  the 
year  1790  and  twice  since,  and  although  the  authors 
have  no  thought  that  I  am  possessed  of  the  means  and 
instruments,!  have  them.  I  have  not  only  the  men's 
names,  but  the  rooms  in  the  houses  where  it  was  agreed 
upon.  Two  were  in  the  dead  scenes  of  the  night. 

Notwithstanding  I  have  ever  been  the  slave  of  my 
friends,  I  find,  when  they  think  there  is  a  prospect  of 
selling  an  old  friend  for  an  new  one,  they  embrace  the 
opportunity.  Look  back  on  time,  and  point  out  the  man 
that  has  been  deep  in  politics  in  this  State,  and  you  will 
find  he  died  poor,  if  not  in  a6lual  distress,  and  at  the 
close  of  life  I  imagine  miserable.  Reflect  on  this  and 
write  me  an  answer. 

In  haste,  from  your  well-wisher,  friend  and  kinsman, 

Jon'n  J.  Hazard 

The  town  in  New  York  to  which  Mr.  Hazard  re- 
moved was  Verona, in  Oneida  County, nine  miles  south- 


Notes  309 

west  of  Rome,  where  he  became  a  prominent  man  and 
was  much  respected. 

'"T^i?  late  Honour  able  Elisha  R.  Potter.'" 
Elisha  Reynolds  Potter  was  born  in  South  Kingstown, 
November  5, 1 764,  and  died  there  September  26, 1 835. 
Beginning  life  as  a  blacksmith's  apprentice  and  a  sol- 
dier, he  became  a  lawyer,  speaker  of  the  Rhode  Island 
House  of  Representatives  for  six  years,  and  a  member 
of  Congress  for  four  terms.  In  local  matters  Mr.  Pot- 
ter evinced  much  public  spirit  and  was  regarded  with 
high  respe6l.  He  was  the  second  president  of  the  Land- 
holder's Bank  in  Kingston  and  took  an  interest  in  pub- 
lic education.  It  has  been  said  of  him  that "  few  political 
men  of  Rhode  Island  ever  acquired  or  maintained  a  more 
commanding  influence."  His  portrait  is  shown  in  this 
work. 

His  son,  of  the  same  name  (born  in  South  Kings- 
town, June  20,  181 1;  died  there  April  10,  1882), was 
a  graduate  of  Harvard  in  1830,  a  member  of  Congress, 
and  a  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Rhode  Island.  He 
was  the  author  of  the  very  valuable  work.  The  Early 
History  of  Narragansett^  frequently  quoted  in  these  vol- 
umes, and  published  in  1835.  Another  work  from  his 
pen,  which  Arnold,  in  his  History  of  Rhode  Island^  char- 
a6terizes  as  an  able  pamphlet  upon  the  colonial  cur- 
rency of  Rhode  Island,  was  A  Brief  Account  of  the  Emis- 
sion of  Paper  Money  (Providence,  1837).  From  May, 
1849,  till  Odober,  1854,  Mr.  Potter  was  State  com- 
missioner of  public  schools,  in  conne6tion  with  which 
office  he  wrote  many  important  reports,  serving  to 
awaken  an  enlightened  interest  in  general  education. 

'■'■Commodore  Oliver  Hazard  Perry'' 
Without  repeating  the  well-known  story  of  Commo- 
dore Perry,  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  he  was  born 
(August  23, 1785)  in  the  village  of  Rocky  Brook,  South 
Kingstown,  in  the  "west  chamber"  of  the  house  of 
William  Rodman,  still  standing  (1895). 


310  Notes 

680  "Oliver  Hazard^  of  South  Kingstown^ 

Mr.  Hazard  (born  September  13,  1710;  died  April  14, 
1 79 2)  married,  Decemberg,  1736, Elizabeth  Raymond, 
of  New  London,  Connefticut. 

681  "John  Case  Esq.'' 

There  was  an  extensive  family  of  Cases  living  in  Nar- 
ragansett  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century 
and  throughout  the  eighteenth,  descended  from  William 
Case,  of  Newport,  who  died  not  later  than  1676,  but 
it  does  not  now  seem  possible  to  establish  a  connection 
between  it  and  John  Case,  of  Tower  Hill.  The  home- 
stead estate  of  the  first  of  the  name  in  South  Kingstown, 
Joseph  (born  1654,  died  1741),  is  said  to  have  been 
east  of  Kingston  village,  the  land  having  since  belonged 
to  the  Elisha  R.  Potter  estate.  Joseph's  son  John  died 
in  1 763,  his  wife  being  Elizabeth  Sunderland  and  having 
a  large  family  of  children,  and  their  residence  being 
West  Greenwich.  The  age  of  John  Case,  of  Tower 
Hill,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1770,  has  been  given 
as  sixty-nine  years.  The  loss  of  John  Gardiner  and  John 
Case,  during  the  same  month,  must  have  been  a  severe 
blow  to  St.  Paul's  Church. 

682  '■'■One  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  repairing  the 

old  church.'' 

Judge  Potter,  in  The  Early  History  of  Narragansett^  p. 
377,  states  that  the  bequest  of  Mr.  Case  for  repairing 
the  old  church  was  ^100.  It  seems  somewhat  singular 
to  find  the  Narragansett  Church  designated  as  "the  old 
church"  in  a  will  made  as  long  since  as  1770.  The  lot 
given  for  a  church  by  Dr.  MacSparran  is  believed  to 
have  been  on  MacSparran  Hill,  it  long  continuing  to 
be  called  "the  hill  lot." 

683  '■'The  Rev.  William  Montague." 

Mr.  Montague  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1784, 
and  was  the  minister,  or  re6lor,  of  Christ  Church,  Bos- 
ton, from  June,  1787,  to  May,  1792,  when  he  resigned 
and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  William  Walter,  D.D., 
as  rector.  From  1792  until  i8i8,he  had  charge  of  Christ 


Notes  311 

Church  (since  named  St.  Paul's),  Dedham,  Massachu- 
setts, although  he  was  often  absent  for  weeks  or  months, 
engaged  in  efforts  to  recover  lands  belonging  to,  or  sup- 
posed to  belong  to,  the  Eastern  Diocese.  At  the  time 
of  Mr.  Montague's  accession  to  the  re6lorship  at  Ded- 
ham, the  parish  had  just  come  into  the  possession  of  a 
bequest  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres  of  land,  as 
an  endowment.  By  an  agreement  with  the  parish  he  was 
invested,  for  the  term  of  fifteen  years,  from  May  i, 
1792,  with  all  the  estate  of  the  church,  including  all 
the  rents  for  lands  leased,  to  use  and  enjoy  in  any  man- 
ner he  thought  fit.  In  18 15,  Mr.  Montague  was  pre- 
sented by  the  convention  to  the  bishop  for  trial,  as 
guilty  of  scandalous,  disorderly,  and  immoral  conduct, 
and,  in  181 8,  the  bishop  and  his  clergy  appeared  in 
Dedham  and  deprived  him  of  his  office  of  priest,  more 
than  half  the  estate  having  been  sold  and  the  proceeds 
spent.  He  died  July  22,  1833,  having  continued  to  live 
in  Dedham,  where  he  took  much  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  community. 

^^Obtained  possession  of  the  Tower  Hill  estate. ^^ 
John  Case,  by  his  will,  dated  May  15,  1770,  devised 
to  James  Honyman,  Esq.,  of  Newport,  his  homestead 
lot,  hill  farm,  and  wood-lot,  in  trust  and  to  the  use  of 
the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  the  rents, 
profits, and  improvements  to  be  applied  towards  the  sup- 
port of  a  bishop  of  the  Church  of  England,  as  by  law 
established^  whenever  such  a  bishop  might  be  conse- 
crated and  sent  to  preside  over  a  diocese  or  distrift  com- 
prehending the  Narragansett  country.  This  trust  was 
subject  to  the  use  of  the  property  for  life  by  the  widow 
of  Mr.  Case.  Until  a  bishop  should  be  sent  as  provided, 
the  profits  and  rents  were  to  be  applied  to  the  mainte- 
nance of  the  poor  of  the  Church  of  England  in  Nar- 
ragansett by  the  minister,  wardens,  and  vestry  of  that 
Church.  Mr.  Honyman  died  in  1778,  twenty  years  be- 
fore the  death  of  Mrs.  Case,  and  does  not  appear  to 
have,  in  any  way,  entered  upon  the  fulfilment  of  the 
trust.  Fifteen  years  before  Mrs.  Case's  death  the  inde- 


312  Notes 

pendence  of  the  United  States  was  recognized  by  Great 
Britain  and  the  possibility  of  the  sending  from  that  coun- 
try of  a  bishop  of  the  Church  of  England,  as  by  law 
established^  "properly  appointed  and  consecrated,"  was 
forever  estopped.  Upon  Mrs.  Case's  death,  in  1798,  St. 
Paul's  Church  took  possession  of  the  property  and  ap- 
plied the  rents  and  profits  as  provided  by  the  will.  At 
a  meeting  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  held  December  i ,  1 8 1 1 , 
the  Rev.  William  Montague  and  James  Richardson, 
Esq.,  were  appointed  agents  to  search  for  lands  and 
other  property  within  the  recently  formed  Eastern  Dio- 
cese, heretofore  given  for  the  support  of  the  worship  of 
God  according  to  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States.  Under 
this  commission  the  Rev.  Mr.  Montague  obtained  a 
letter  of  attorney,  dated  March  9,  181 2,  from  Henry 
Sherburne,  of  Newport,  and  Catharine,  his  wife,  she  be- 
ing one  of  the  children  and  heirs  at  law  of  James  Hony- 
man,  the  original  trustee,  authorizing  him  to  take  into 
his  possession  the  lands  devised  by  John  Case.  At  the 
time  of  Mr.  Honyman's  death  he  had  two  sons  and  six 
daughters,  but  none  of  his  children  signed  this  power 
of  attorney  except  the  above-mentioned  Catharine 
Sherburne,  who  was  the  widow  of  William  Tweedy 
when  she  married  Colonel  Sherburne. 

The  people  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Narragansett,  pro- 
tested against  "the  unwarrantable  and  unprecedented 
conduit  of  the  Rev.  William  Montague,  of  the  State 
of  Massachusetts,  by  endeavouring,  in  the  most  arbi- 
trary manner  to  wrest  from  them  the  little  property  be- 
longing to  the  Church,  which  they  had  hitherto  held  in 
quiet  and  peaceable  possession,"  and  proceeded  to  em- 
ploy counsel  to  plead  their  cause,  in  the  suit  brought 
against  the  parish.  In  spite  of  all  resistance,  however, 
the  trustees  of  donations,  through  their  agent,  Mr.  Mon- 
tague, succeeded,  as  stated  in  the  text,  in  gaining,  for 
a  time,  possession  of  the  Tower  Hill  estate. 

In  this  connexion  a  most  conciliatory  letter,  written 
to  the  wardens  of  St.  Paul's  Church  from  Newport,  on 


Notes  313 

the  same  date  as  that  of  the  execution  of  the  letter 
of  attorney  mentioned  above,  by  Bishop  Griswold,  the 
head  of  the  Eastern  Diocese,  becomes  of  deep  concern. 
In  it  he  declares:  "Whatever  interest  I  may  have  or 
be  supposed  to  have  in  any  of  the  Church  lands  in  Nar- 
ragansett  cannot  be  applied  more  to  my  mind  or  my 
wishes  than  in  promoting  your  prosperity  and  contri- 
buting to  the  establishment  of  an  useful  Minister  of  the 
Gospel  among  you,  and  the  regular  administration  of 
the  Divine  ordinances  of  our  Blessed  Redeemer."  Again, 
May  27,  1835,  Bishop  Griswold  wrote  to  Henry  Cod- 
man,  Esq.,  respe6ting  the  Case  estate  in  Narragansett 
lands:  "For  above  thirty  years,  within  my  knowledge, 
those  lands  have  been  a  subje6l  or  cause  of  animosity 
and  contention  between  the  people  of  the  two  towns. 
In  all  that  time  I  have  endeavoured  to  promote  peace 
among  them.  The  compromise  and  agreement  effeited 
by  Mr.  Montague  and  others  made  peace  for  a  while; 
but  it  was  of  not  long  continuance.  ...  If  they  will 
live  in  peace,  which  I  hope  they  now  will,  and  apply 
the  avails  of  the  land  to  religious  purposes,  I  shall  be 
content.  It  is  several  years,  since  I  have  received  from 
them  anything  for  the  rents.  It  is  very  desirable  that  a 
minister  should  labour  in  each  town  and,  during  my  life 
time,  I  am  willing  that  the  whole  of  the  rents  should 
be  applied  to  efFe6l  it." 

685    ^'■And  now  hold  the  estates T 

At  the  time  of  the  publication  of  this  work,  in  1847, 
the  above  was  the  case,  but  on  February  1 3, 1 860,  "the 
Church  or  Case  estate  situated  on  Tower  Hill,  in  South 
Kingstown,  .  .  .  containing  twenty-eight  acres,  more 
or  less,"  was  sold,  at  public  au6lion  (by  request  of  Bishop 
Clark),  by  Wilkins  Updike,  agent,  to  Elisha  Watson, 
of  South  Kingstown,  for  the  sum  of  ;^I325,  "a  Deed 
in  warranty"  of  the  same  being  made  by  the  treasurer 
of  the  Rhode  Island  Episcopal  Convention.  This  trans- 
action appears,  in  accordance  with  the  Bishop's  expres- 
sion of  "relief  to  have  the  matter  settled,"  to  have  ter- 
minated the  Case  trust,  although  the  disposition  of  the 


314  Notes 

hill  farm  and  wood-lot,  bequeathed  to  the  church,  by 
Mr.  Case,  is  unknown  to  the  editor. 

686  ''Phillippa  Case^ 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  Christian  name  of 
this  lady  was  Phillip  instead  of  PhilUppa^  it  being  thus 
given  in  several  cases.  In  an  issue  of  the  Newport  Mer- 
cury^ of  June,  1798,  is  the  following  obituary  notice: 
"At  Tower  Hill,  South  Kingstown,  on  Tuesday  the 
26^  ult.,aged  92  years, Mrs.  Philip  Case,Reli6l  of  John 
Case  Esq. ;  a  Lady  of  real  Piety  and  Goodnefs,  and  on 
the  Friday  following,  her  Remains  were  respeilfully  in- 
terred in  St.  Paul's  Church  Yard.  —  By  her  death,  the 
Rents  and  Profits  of  a  valuable  landed  Estate  are  to  be 
appropriated,  agreeably  to  her  Husband's  last  Will,  to- 
wards the  Support  of  a  Bishop  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
whose  Diocese  comprehends  the  Church  at  Narragan- 
sett."  AsMrs.Case  is  said,  in  the  text, to  have  been  "the 
daughter  of  Charles  Dickinson,"  and  as  the  Charles 
Dickinson  of  that  period  is  known  to  have  married 
Phillip  Greene,  daughter  of  Major  John  Greene  and 
widow  of  Caleb  Carr,  it  is  rendered  more  probable  that 
the  form  of  Mrs.  Case's  name,  Philip  (or  Phillip),  as 
given  in  the  above  obituary,  rather  than  Phillippa,  is  the 
correal:  one,  inherited  from  her  mother. 

687  '^Charles  Dickinson^  of  Narragansett^ 

Charles  Dickinson  appears  to  have  been  one  of  the 
earliest  Churchmen  living  in  the  Narragansett  country. 
When  Captain  Benoni  Sweet, in  June,  1707,  conveyed 
a  piece  of  land  as  a  site  for  a  church,  where  the  Mac- 
Sparran  monument  now  stands,  "Charles  Dickinson 
of  Kingstown"  was  one  of  the  three  grantees.  His  name 
stands  also  at  the  head  of  eight  of  "the  principal  inhab- 
itants of  Narraganset  in  communion  with  the  Church 
of  England,"  signing  a  letter  to  the  S.  P.  G.,in  1715, 
as  well  as  at  that  of  fourteen  "  members  of  the  Church 
of  England  in  Narraganset,"  signing  a  similar  letter 
in  1 716.  Mr.  Dickinson  was  likewise  a  member  of  the 
first  recorded  vestry  of  St.  Paul's,  elected  in  1 718.  At 
the  time  of  Charles   Dickinson's  marriage  to  Philip 


Notes  315 

(Greene)  Carr*^^  (after  1690),  he  was  a  resident  of 
Jamestown,  Rhode  Island.  December  4,  1695,  he  was 
appointed  on  a  committee  "  to  make  rates  "  in  that  town, 
where,  August  2 1 , 1 696,he  was  made  a  freeman.  Some- 
time between  that  date  and  1707,  he  removed  to  Nar- 
ragansett.  He  was  a  son  of  John  Dickinson  and  his  wife, 
Ehzabeth,  daughter  of  John  Howland,of  the  Mayflower. 

688  "Mr.  William  Davis's." 

On  June  24,  1744,  Dr.  MacSparran  baptized  two 
adults,  William  Davis  and  Esther  Chappel,  and  four 
weeks  later,  on  Sunday,  July  22nd,  he  united  the  same 
in  marriage. 

On  April  4,  1 763,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fayerweather,  who 
had  been  lately  married,  records,  in  the  Parish  Regis- 
ter, in  his  usual  quaint  fashion,  "  Mr  W"*  Davis  And 
Family  Moved  Away  from  the  Parsonage  house  Where 
They  had  Lived  With  Mr  F —  for  Two  Years  in  Great 
Unanimity  &  Peace." 

On  December  29,  1749,  Dr.  MacSparran  baptized 
two  children  of  William  Davis,  and  Esther,  his  wife, 
William  and  Anstis.  It  is  evidently  this  latter  William, 
whose  children  are  recorded  in  the  text  as  having  been 
baptized  by  Mr.  Fayerweather  twenty  years  later.  As 
lateasNovember  16,  1790, the  name  of  William  Davis 
appears  as  that  of  one  of  those  present  at  a  parish  meet- 
ing. Why  it  is  recorded  that  the  baptism  of  these  chil- 
dren was  performed  "at  the  request  of  George  Rome" 
is  not  quite  apparent,  but  we  are  indebted  to  the  seem- 
ingly irrelevant  statement  for  the  preservation,  by  Mr. 
Updike,  of  much  curious  information  concerning  this 
pi6luresque  character,  which  otherwise  would  have  been 
lost.  It  may  be  that  young  Mr.  Davis  adted  as  steward 
or  farmer  for  Mr.  Rome. 

689  *^ George  Rome  Esq''" 

It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Rome  was  unrelated  to  any  other 
inhabitants  of  Rhode  Island  or  Narragansett  and  al- 
most certain  that  he  left  no  descendants  there.  It  should 
be  noted,  however,  that  in  the  preceding  century  there 
was  a  John  Roome  living  in  Portsmouth,  on   Rhode 


3i6  Notes 

Island.  As  early  as  1638,  this  John  was  admitted  an 
inhabitant  of  the  island  of  Aquidneck,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  one  of  those  who  declared:  "we 
binde  ourzelves  into  a  civill  body  politicke."  In  1644, 
he  was  awarded  "  lande  at  the  wading-river,"  in  Ports- 
mouth. In  1 65 1,  when  Roger  Williams  sold  his  trad- 
ing-house, in  Narragansett,  to  Richard  Smith,  of  Ports- 
mouth, John  Roome  was  one  of  the  witnesses,  using 
a  large  capital  R  as  his  mark.  (Austin's  Genealogical 
Di£iionary  of  Rhode  Island^  p.  167;  Rhode  Island  Co- 
lonial Records,  i.  70,  82,  91 ;  Fones'  Record,  p.  94.) 
It  is  probable  that  Rome  was  a  North  of  England  sur- 
name. In  Crossthwaite  church-yard,  in  Cumberland, 
there  is  to  be  seen  the  name  of  William  Rome  on  a 
stone  near  the  grave  of  Robert  Southey.  The  antique 
pronunciation  of  the  word  Rome  as  if  it  were  spelled  with 
a  circumflexed  0  is  not,  as  is  well  known,  peculiar  to 
it,  when  used  as  a  family  name.  Formerly,  especially 
among  aftors,  the  only  elegant  pronunciation  of  the 
Italian  capital  was  Roome.  Until  within  the  last  thirty 
years  a  descendant  of  some  of  George  Rome's  slaves, 
still  living  in  North  Kingstown,  was  known  as  Betty 
Roome. 

690    '-'' Judge  Ezekiel  Gardiner." 

It  is  stated,  in  the  town  records  of  North  Kingstown, 
that,  after  the  confiscation  of  the  farm  of  George  Rome, 
the  tory  of  Boston  Neck,  in  1 776,  it  was  sold  to  Judge 
Ezekiel  Gardiner.  Justice  Gardiner  is  spoken  of  by  Dr. 
MacSparran,  in  his  Diary^  under  the  date  of  October 
22,  1 745,  and  appears  to  be  the  Ezekiel  Gardiner  who 
was  a  son  of  Nicholas,  a  great-uncle  of  Mrs.  MacSpar- 
ran. The  residence  of  this  branch  of  the  Gardiner  fa- 
mily, at  this  date,  is  believed  to  have  been  the  Gardiner 
place,  immediately  east  of  the  site  of  the  MacSparran 
monument,  at  what  is  still  known  as  "Pinder  Zeke's 
Corner,"  so  named  after  an  Ezekiel  Gardiner  who  was 
connefted  with  the  somewhat  extensive  Pinder  family 
of  that  day.  It  is  not  unlikely,  however,  that  the  Judge 
Gardiner  who  bought  the  "Rome  farm"  in  1776  be- 


Notes  317 

longs  to  a  later  generation  than  the  "Justice  Gardi- 
ner" of  Dr.  MacSparran's  Diary ^  thirty  years  before. 
For  many  years,  in  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury, this  farm  was  owned  by  the  late  Reynolds  Greene 
and  known  by  his  name,  passing  at  his  death  to  his 
children.  It  appears  to  have  preserved  the  original  area 
of  George  Rome's  time,  of  between  six  and  seven 
hundred  acres,  the  northeastern  angle  being  still  called 
Rome  Point. 

691  "272^  mansion  housed 

A  careful  examination  of  this  house,  nearly  forty  years 
ago,  failed  to  show  any  trace  of  the  unusual  sleeping- 
arrangements  described  by  tradition,  the  walls  of  all  the 
rooms  being  of  the  ordinary  charailer.  The  most  re- 
markable feature  of  what  then  seemed  a  plain  and  partly 
ruinous  struiture  (now  for  several  years  entirely  re- 
moved), was  the  vast  fireplace  in  the  kitchen,  high  enough 
for  a  man  to  walk  into  it  without  removing  his  hat, 
and  broad  enough  for  the  burning  of  cord-wood  with- 
out interfering  with  the  door  of  a  brick  oven  upon  the 
back  side  or  the  "chimney-corner  "seat  inside  the  open- 
ing. Upon  one  side  of  the  kitchen  and  in  the  rear  there 
was  a  number  of  small  plastered  bedrooms,  said  to  have 
been  formerly  occupied  by  the  slaves.  This  fireplace 
was  the  only  remaining  evidence  of  the  famous  feasts 
and  hilarity  of  a  hundred  years  before.  There  were, 
however,  vestiges  of  a  more  extensive  rear-building 
(attached  to  the  main  edifice)  which  had  already  gone  to 
decay. 

692  ^'^  The  garden.'^ 

The  Rome  house  used  to  be  approached  by  what  must 
then  have  been  a  stately  avenue  of  buttonwood  trees,  a 
very  ^qw  of  which  have  remained,  mostly  in  the  form  of 
unsightly  trunks,  to  the  present  generation.  Some  marks 
of  the  former  fish-ponds  and  flower-gardens  are  dimly 
visible.  A  great  box  tree  still  remaining  on  the  place 
was  purchased  many  years  since  by  a  neighbouring 
farmer  of  taste,  and  removed  to  his  yard.  This,  now 
grown  to  be  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  specimens  of 


3i8  Notes 

box  in  the  State,  has  again(i905)been  transported  with 
great  care  to  Providence,  to  adorn  the  grounds  of  the 
elegant  old  house  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Benefit  and 
Power  streets.  The  following  sketch  is  taken  from  the 
Providence  'Journal: 

"There  arrived  yesterday  at  the  Reynolds  dock  in 
Wickford  for  shipment  to  this  city  the  finest  specimen 
of  an  ancient  boxwood  tree  in  this  State,  and  probably 
in  the  country,  it  being  some  fifteen  feet  in  height  and 
over  thirty  feet  in  circumference,  while  it  is  said  to 
weigh  in  the  neighbourhood  of  seven  tons.  This  tree 
has  a  history.  Some  century  and  a  half  ago  it  was  shipped 
from  England  to  the  estate  of  Colonel  George  Rome  in 
North  Kingstown,  with  a  number  of  others,  to  set  out  a 
hedge. Colonel  Rome's  estate  was  at  Barber's  Heights  [?], 
and  was  probably  at  that  time  the  most  perfectly  appointed 
in  Washington  County,  and  as  fine  as  any  in  New  Eng- 
land, for  not  only  was  the  house  constructed  after  those 
to  be  found  on  the  estates  of  the  gentry  of  England, 
with  wide  halls  and  large  apartments  [?],  but  thegrounds 
were  laid  out  in  an  artistic  manner,  with  terraces  and 
walks  sheltered  by  hedges  of  box  and  other  shrubs. 
Here  the  Colonel  lived  the  life  of  an  English  gentleman 
until  thebreakingoutof  the  Revolution,  when  he  left  the 
country  in  disgust  and  returned  to  England.  The  Fed- 
eral government  after  some  years  confiscated  his  es- 
tate,and  it  was  soldto  J.  C.Brown,  of  the  firm  of  Brown 
&  Ives,  who  disposed  of  it  later  to  Judge  E.  Gardiner, 
a  one-time  justice  of  the  common  pleas  court,  and 
the  farm  finally  came  into  the  possession  of  Reynolds 
Greene,  whose  heirs  still  own  the  land,  the  house  hav- 
ing been  destroyed  many  years  ago.  After  the  pro- 
perty came  into  Mr.  Greene's  possession  a  neighbour, 
John  A.  Browning,  took  a  fancy  to  the  boxwood  tree, 
purchased  it,  and  had  it  removed  to  his  farm,  now  the 
Gardiner  place,  where  it  has  continued  to  flourish,  until 
its  present  removal."  \Not  entirely  accurate^ 

693    '■'■Large  estates  on  Rhode  Island." 

One  of  the  debtors  of  the  London  firm,  whose  claims 


Notes  319 

Mr.  Rome  came  to  Newport  to  colledt,  was  the  well- 
known  Henry  Collins,  of  that  town,  a  personal  friend 
of  Dean  Berkeley  and  one  of  the  original  members  of 
the  Dean's  "Philosophical  Society,"  which  developed 
into  the  Redwood  Library.  Mr.  Collins  appears  to  have 
been  forced  to  adjust  the  heavy  demands  against  him 
by  making  an  assignment  to  Mr.  Rome  of  his  large  es- 
tate, consisting  of  a  house  and  wharf  in  Newport  and 
various  farms,  among  them  the  one  in  Boston  Neck, 
Narragansett,  the  whole,  by  an  easy  process,  passing 
into  the  hands  of  the  assignee  as  his  own  property.  The 
records  of  North  Kingstown  contain  Mr.  Rome's  notice, 
in  1766,  of  his  authority  to  settle  the  affairs  of  Henry 
Collins,  deceased,  and  at  about  the  same  time  the  agent 
himself  succeeded  to  the  possession  of  the  Collins  farm. 

694  '■^Andrew  Oliver y 

Lieutenant-Governor  Oliver,  of  Massachusetts,  was 
born  in  Boston,  March  28, 1 706,  and  died  there  March 
3, 1 774.  He  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Governor  Thomas 
Hutchinson.  At  the  passage  of  the  Stamp  Ail  he  made 
himself  unpopular  by  accepting  the  office  of  distributor 
of  stamps,  and  on  August  14,  1765,  was  hanged  in 
effigy  on  "the  liberty  tree,"  subsequently  signing  a  public 
pledge  that  he  would  not  a6l  as  a  stamp  officer.  In  1770, 
he  was  appointed  Lieutenant-Governor.  Public  feeling 
ran  so  high  at  the  time  of  his  death  that  his  entombment 
was  attended  by  scandalous  scenes. 

695  "yf  halter  which  you  had  the  honour  to  grace." 

In  the  absence  of  an  address  to  this  letter,  it  is  impos- 
sible to  assert  to  whom  it  was  written.  But  the  fa61;  that 
Dr.  Moffat  had,  two  years  previously,  according  to  the 
testimony  of  Dr.  Waterhouse,  an  eye-witness,  been 
hanged  in  effigy  on  the  Newport  Parade,  makes  it  ex- 
ceedingly probable,  in  the  light  of  this  allusion,  that  he 
was  the  "  Do61:or"  to  whom  this  long  missive  was  sent. 
It  has  been  supposed  that  Dr.  Moffat,  immediately  after 
the  events  of  1 7  65 ,  fled  to  England,  but  there  is  reason  to 
believe  that  he  remained  several  years  in  America,  out- 
side of  Rhode  Island. 


320  Notes 

696  "My  compliments  to  Colonel  Stewart." 

In  the  absence  of  Colonel  Stewart's  Christian  name, 
the  data  for  any  positive  assertion  as  to  his  identity  are 
obviously  wanting.  There  can  be,  nevertheless,  little 
doubt  that  he  was  the  Matthew  Stewart,  of  New  Lon- 
don, so  often  mentioned  in  Dr.  MacSparran's  Diary 
as  the  husband  of  Mrs.  MacSparran's  niece,  Abigail 
Gardiner,  and  thus  a  familiar  visitor  in  Narragansett. 
It  is  true  that  it  is  remarked,  in  the  introduftion  to  Mr. 
Rome's  letter,  in  the  text,  that  it  was  written  to  a  friend 
at  Boston^  raising  the  presumption  that  the  Colonel 
Stewart  to  whom  compliments  were  sent  was  tarrying 
there.  But,  in  view  of  the  fa6t  that,  when  the  missive 
came  to  be  copied  by  Mr.  Updike,  it  had  been  for  nearly 
seventy-five  years  one  of  a  colle6lion  of  political  docu- 
ments and  had  apparently  lost  its  address,  it  is  proba- 
ble that  the  suggestion  of  Boston  as  its  destination  was 
only  a  surmise.  In  favour  of  that  conclusion  also  there 
are  two  positive  internal  evidences.  The  recipient  of 
the  letter  is  informed  that  his  friend  Robinson  has  "  gone 
to  Boston," — an  unnecessary  piece  of  information,  if 
they  have  already  met  there.  Then  both  he  and  Colonel 
Stewart  are  invited  to  a  Christmas  dinner  in  Narragan- 
sett, only  three  days  before  the  time,  an  interval  en- 
tirely insufficient,  with  the  existing  facilities  for  trans- 
portation, for  a  letter  to  travel  to  Boston  and  for  the 
guests  to  return.  New  London,  on  the  other  hand,  Mat- 
thew Stewart's  residence,  being  only  about  a  third  as  far 
distant,  was  quite  sufficiently  accessible  for  the  purpose. 
This  view  tallies,  too,  with  our  knowledge  of  the  resi- 
dence at  this  period  of  Dr.  Moffat,  the  supposed  re- 
cipient of  the  communication.  In  the  Proceedings  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  Rhode  Island  in  1775,  Tho- 
mas Moffatt  is  referred  to  as  "now  or  late  of  New  Lon- 
don." (Rhode  Island  Colonial  Records,  vii.  394.) 

697  "He  fled  on  board  of  the  Rose,  man-of-war." 

It  is  asserted  by  tradition  that  on  thevery  night  of  the  day 
when  Mr.  Rome  escaped  to  the  British  war-ship, his  house 
in  Newport  was  torn  down  by  the  indignant  patriots. 


Notes  321 

698  ^^  Benjamin  Br  en  ton  .  . .  Jahleel  Brenton." 
These  are  believed  to  be  sons  of  Jahleel  Brenton,  of 
Newport,  who  was  born  in  1691  and  died  in  1767,  be- 
ing remarked  upon  in  Note  415.  Benjamin  (born  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1738)  is  to  be  distinguished  from  his  much 
older  cousin,  Major  Benjamin,*"^  of  Narragansett,  whose 
death,  in  1766,  is  recorded  in  the  Parish  Register.  Jah- 
leel (born  061:ober  22,  1729)  became  a  rear-admiral 
of  the  British  Navy,  and  was  the  father  of  Sir  Jahleel 
Brenton.  Both  Benjamin  and  Jahleel  Brenton  were  resi- 
dents of  Newport  at  the  time  of  the  confiscation  of 
their  estates. 

699  '•'•Ralph  Inman,  Gilbert  DeBlois,  Samuel  Sewall." 
These  were  all  residents  of  Boston  who  had  property 
in  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island.  Gilbert  DeBlois  is  styled 
merchant^  and  his  confiscated  estate  consisted  in  part 
of  a  house  and  shop  in  Providence  and  that  of  Inman 
of  a  house  in  Newport.  Samuel  Sewallwas  a  great-grand- 
son of  Judge  Samuel  Sewall,of  Boston,  and  a  descend- 
ant of  the  "Pettaquamscutt  Purchaser,"  John  HuU.'^ 

700  "John  Borland." 

Mr.  Borland  had  been  a  resident  of  Cambridge,  in  the 
Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  His  estate  in  Rhode 
Island  included  a  farm  near  Bristol  and  one  or  more 
trads  of  land  in  Point  Judith. 

701  "Charles  Dudley." 

There  is  a  curious  letter,  which  was  found  among  the 
correspondence  of  Admiral  Montagu,  written  to  an 
unknown  person,  by  "Charles  Dudley,  Esq.,"  from 
"Rhode  Island,  23d  July,  1 7 72," upon  the  Gaspee  affair. 
(Rhode  Island  Colonial  Records,  vii.  92.)  He  proba- 
bly lived  at  Newport,  and  is  alluded  to  in  the  Trinity 
records,  Easter  Monday,  April  i,  1771. 

702  "The  Rev^  Mr.  Troutbeck  Kings  Chaplin." 
The  Rev.  John  Troutbeck  was  settled  as  a  missionary 
of  the  Venerable  Society  at  Hopkinton,  Massachusetts, 
i^  17531  to  have  charge  of  that  station  and  the  neigh- 


322  Notes 

bouring  Indians,  and  resigned,  according  to  the  S.P.G. 
Digest,  in  iJSJ-  In  the  latter  part  of  1755,  apparently 
while  he  was  still  the  missionary  at  Hopkinton,  not  find- 
ing it  "the  Paradise  it  was  described  to  be,"  he  suc- 
ceeded the  Rev.  Charles  Brockwell,  then  lately  deceased, 
as  assistant  minister  at  King's  Chapel,  Boston.  Of  these 
two  and  the  reftor  it  has  been  remarked:  "Under  the 
care  of  Dr.  Caner  and  his  able  assistants^  the  congre- 
gation of  King's  Chapel  enjoyed  peace  and  prosperity." 
(Batchelder's  History  of  the  Eastern  Diocese^  i.  pp.  397, 
398.)  After  the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  British 
forces  in  March,  1776,  and  Dr.  Caner's  departure  with 
them  for  Halifax,  Mr.  Troutbeck  remained  in  Boston 
until  the  following  November,  and  may  have  continued 
to  hold  services  in  the  Chapel.  In  connection  with 
Dr.  Caner,about  1757  and  1758,  Mr.  Troutbeck,  in 
addition  to  his  work  at  King's  Chapel,  served  Christ 
Church,  Boston,  in  the  illness  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cutler, 
the  re£tor. 

703  ^^  George  Goulding^  of  Newport T 

George  Goulding  (son  of  Roger,  the  first  settler  of  the 
name  and  a  captain  under  Captain  Benjamin  Church 
at  the  time  of  the  death  of  King  Philip)  was  born  July 
30,  1685,  and  died  in  i  742.  Mr.  Goulding  was  a  gen- 
eral merchant,  a  very  prominent  citizen,  and  a  valuable 
member  and  sometime  vestryman  of  Trinity  Parish, 
being  buried  in  Trinity  church-yard.  In  1738,  he  de- 
posed that  he  had  heard  his  mother,  Penelope,  declare 
that  her  father.  Governor  Benediil  Arnold,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  of  England.  George  Goulding  was 
married,  first,  August  17,  1707,  to  Mary,  a  daughter 
of  John  Scott,  by  whom  he  had  four  children:  Eliza- 
beth (Mrs.  Honyman,born  July  16,  171 3),  Penelope, 
Mary,  and  George,  who  followed  his  father  as  a  pew- 
holderofTrinityChurch.  Mr.Goulding  married, second, 
Mary,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Ayrault,  of  East  Green- 
wich, Rhode  Island,  and  widow  of  James  Cranston. 

704  ''The  Rei/- Mr.  Bissit''' 

The  Rev.  George  Bisset  first  appears  in  the  Annals  of 


Notes  323 

Trinity  Churchy  Newport^  in  1767,  as  the  school-mas- 
ter and  assistant  minister  of  the  parish.  In  lyji-,  after 
the  death  of  the  re6lor,  the  Rev.  Marmaduke  Browne, 
it  was  resolved,  at  a  meeting  of  the  congregation,  that 
"the  Rev.  Mr.  Bisset  be  our  Minister,"  and  he  thus 
remained  until  the  evacuation  of  Newport  by  the  Brit- 
ish in  1779.  On  the  title-page  of  a  sermon,  The  Trial  of 
a  False  y^w//^,  preached  in  Trinity  Church,  Oilober  24, 
1773,  he  styles  himself  "Reftor  of  said  Church,"  but 
his  name  does  not  appear  in  the  list  of  re£lors  at  the 
endof  Mason's  Annals  of  Trinity  Church  .In  A^n\^  ^ITi-) 
Mr.  Bisset  was  married  to  Penelope,  a  daughter  of  James 
Honyman,"^^  Esq.,  and  on  May  23,  1774,  he  baptized 
his  son  James,  who  became  a  clergyman  and  was  set- 
tled in  New  Brunswick,  dying  in  1815.  Mr.  Bisset's 
ministry  was  successful  until  the  War  of  the  Revolution 
broke  out  and  the  congregation  was  scattered,  although 
he  continued  the  services  for  congregations  chiefly  of 
British  soldiers.  When  he  departed  with  the  retreating 
army,  he  left  his  family  in  great  want,  Mrs.  Bisset's 
father  having  died  the  preceding  year.  She  was,  how- 
ever, permitted  to  resume  possession  of  her  furniture, 
which  had  been  confiscated,  and  to  join  him  in  New 
York  in  1780.  The  latter  part  of  Mr.  Bisset's  life, 
1786-8,  he  spent  as  re6tor  of  St.  John's  Church,  at  St. 
John's,NewBrunswick,  an  enlargement  of  thebuilding 
becoming  necessary  duringhis  ministry.  Upon  his  death, 
the  congregation  wrote  to  the  Society,  "with  the  keenest 
sense  of  heartfelt  grief, .  .  .  persuaded  that  no  Church 
or  Community  ever  suffered  a  severer  misfortune  in 
the  death  of  an  Individual  than  they  experienced  from 
the  loss  of  this  eminent  Servant  of  Christ,  this  best  and 
most  amiable  of  men."  The  Newport  Herald o^  April 
24, 1 788, remarked  of  him :  "As  a  divine  he  was  equally 
distinguished  for  the  san6lity  of  his  manners  and  the 
liberality  of  his  sentiments.  As  a  scholar  he  was  free 
from  pedantry,  and  as  a  gentleman  he  possessed  the 
social  virtues  in  an  eminent  degree  and  never  once  lost 
sight  of  his  sacred  functions." 


324  Notes 

705  ^^'The  Rev.  Marmaduke  Browne.'* 
Marmaduke  Browne  was  born  in  Providence,  Rhode  Is- 
land, about  1 73 1,  during  the  residence  of  his  father  in 
that  town  as  redlor  of  King's  Church  (now  St.  John's). 
In  1754,  he  graduated  at  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  and 
from  that  year  until  1759  officiated  as  an  itinerant  mis- 
sionary of  the  S.  P.  G.  in  New  Hampshire,  where  his 
father  had  long  been  settled  as  re6lor  of  the  church  at 
Portsmouth.  The  day  of  Mr.  Browne's  death,  March  16, 
1771,  is  incorretSllygiven  as  "the  19*^  ofMarch"inthe 
inscription  upon  the  tablet  set  up  in  Trinity  Church, 
Newport,  a  fourth  of  a  century  after  his  death.  The 
former  date  is  the  one  found  in  the  records  of  the  church. 
Stiles's  Diary  also,  under  date  of  March  i6th,  contains 
a  notice  of  Mr.  Browne's  death  and  a  sketch  of  his 
chara6ler,  which  closes,  in  the  chara6leristic  style  of 
the  excellent  old  Puritan,  in  these  words:  "  He  made  a 
tolerable  figure  for  a  Chh.  clergyman;  for,  in  N.  E., 
they  are  generally  of  very  ordinary  talents."  The  next 
day,  Sunday,  March  1 7th,  the  Do6tor  goes  on  to  re- 
cord: "Trinity  Church  shut  all  day  on  account  of  Mr. 
B's  death, — the  assistant  minister  in  town.  Supersti- 
tious!" Under  date  of  March  21st  Dr.  Stiles  gives  a 
minute  account  of  the  funeral,  at  which  he  himself,  as 
well  as  one  or  more  Baptist  ministers  and  others,  as- 
sisted as  pall-bearers. 

706  '"'■'The  Rev.  Arthur  Browne.'' 

Arthur  Browne  was  born  in  Drogheda,  Ireland,  in  1 699 
or  1 700,  educated  at  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  and  or- 
dained by  the  Bishop  of  London  in  1729.  From  that 
year  until  1735  he  was  settled  in  Providence, Rhode  Is- 
land, and  later  in  Piscataqua  (Portsmouth), New  Hamp- 
shire, as  re6tor  of  "  Queen's  Chapel,"  whither  he  re- 
moved in  1736.  His  death  occurred  suddenly  at  Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts,  in  June,  1773,  while  he  still 
held  the  above  office.  Mr.  Browne  had  four  sons.  He  is 
said  to  be  the  original  of  "the  parson"  in  Longfellow's 
Tales  of  a  Wayside  Inn., — "The  Poet's  Tale."  (Digest 
of  the  S.  P.  G.  Records,  p.  85  2.)  There  is  an  interesting 


Notes  325 

tradition,  not  unreasonable  in  itself,  said  to  have  been 
mentioned  by  Dr.  Ezra  Stiles,  that  Mr.  Browne  came  to 
this  country  in  the  company  of  Dean  Berkeley,  who  is 
known  to  have  been  accompanied  by  several  cultivated 
and  ingenious  young  men.  The  fa6l  that  Berkeley  was 
a  fellow  of  Trinity  College,  Browne's  alma  mater^  and 
the  certainty  that  both  came  in  1729  appear  to  lend 
colour  to  the  story.  (But  see  Note  849.)  Some  further 
account  of  Mr.  Browne  will  be  found  in  the  sketch 
of  St.  John's  Church,  Providence,  Chapter  XXII. 

707    ^^ Honourable  Arthur  Browne,  L,L.D" 

There  is  extant  a  remarkable  letter  written  by  Arthur 
Browne,  2nd,  when  a  lad,  from  his  grandfather's  house 
at  Portsmouth,  soon  after  his  father's  death,  giving 
promise  of  his  subsequent  eminence.  (Mason's  Annah 
of  Trinity  Churchy  Newport^  pp.  145-6.)  He  wrote, 
in  later  life,  the  valuable  work  on  civil  law,  still  in  use, 
alluded  to  in  the  text.  Miscellaneous  Sketches  or  Hints  for 
Essays  (2  vols.,  London,  1798)  contains  an  extremely 
interesting  paper  on  America.  It  will  repay  perusal,  not 
alone  for  its  charming  account  of  New  England  and 
especially  of  Newport,  but  because  it  gives  an  idea  of 
the  chara6ler  and  attainments  of  the  agreeable  man  of 
the  world  who  wrote  it. 

Speakingofthe  Rhode  Island  climate,hesays:  "There 
was  a  mid-season,  consisting  of  about  six  weeks  or  two 
months  in  Spring,  and  as  many  in  Autumn,  which  ex- 
ceeded in  delight  all  the  creations  of  poetic  fancy.  .  . . 
The  climate  of  Rhode  Island,  often  called  the  garden 
and  the  Montpellier  of  America,  induced  such  numbers 
of  wealthy  persons  from  the  southward  to  reside  there 
in  summer,  that  it  was  ludicrously  called  the  Carolina 
hospital.  The  sudden  melting  of  the  snow,  which  had 
cloathed  with  warmth  the  earth  during  the  winter,and  the 
vigorous  advances  of  the  sun,  occasioned  a  rapidity  of 
vegetation  perfectly  astonishing  to  Europe.  The  reeking 
vapour  ascended  from  the  ground,  like  the  smoke  of  a 
grateful  sacrifice  to  the  God  of  nature.  The  resident  in 
those  regions  might  most  justly  say  in  the  spring  of  the 
year: 


326  Notes 

'Nunc  omnis  ager :  nunc  omnis  parturit  arbos ; 
but  he  would  be  puzzled  between  that  season  and  Au- 
tumn in  which  to  pronounce: 

Nunc  formosissimus  annus. 
Even  in  Summer  the  heat  was  perpetually  moderated  by 
occasional  thunder  showers  of  short  duration,  which 
refreshed  the  earth  and  left  behind  them  a  chearful  ver- 
dure and  a  brilliant  sky,  while  now  and  then  a  refresh- 
ing breeze  deliciously  qualified  the  heat,  and  in  winter 
the  brightness  of  the  sun  and  purity  of  the  air  enlivened 
the  spirits,  invited  to  exercise,  and  cheered  the  very  soul. 
I  appeal  to  those  Americans  whose  lot  it  has  been  to 
arrive  even  in  the  magnificent  purlieus  of  London  in  the 
winter  season,  whether  amidst  all  its  grandeur,  its  dark 
and  misty  airand  stifling  clouds  of  obscuringsmoke  have 
not  overwhelmed  their  spirits  by  comparison,  nor  have 
they  been  much  relieved  by  the  dull  and  clouded  skies 
more  visible  in  the  country,  or  prevented  from  sighing 
for  an  American  sun." 

"The  state  of  literature  in  America,"  he  remarks  in 
another  passage,  "  was  by  no  means  contemptible.  Of 
their  schools  self-love  naturally  inclines  the  author  of 
this  sketch  to  give  a  favourable  account,  having  never 
received  any  school  education  elsewhere, yet  their  teach- 
ers were  often  from  Europe,  and  it  was  his  own  fate  to 
be  instru61:ed  by  a  German  and  a  Scotchman.  Their 
colleges  were  to  be  found,  one  in  every  province.  The 
principal  in  New  England  was  that  of  Cambridge,  con- 
sisting of  about  1 80  students,  who  were  lodged  in  four 
handsome  and  extensive  brick  edifices.  The  sciences 
were  taught  much  in  the  same  order  as  with  us,  begin- 
ning with  Logic,  ending  with  ethics,  though  the  books 
perused  were  difi^erent.  One  of  the  professors  of  this 
college,  Dr.  Winthrop,"^  was  well  known  in  Europe  as 
an  Astronomer. . . . 

"The  library  of  this  college  was  a  very  handsome  room. 
The  library  at  Rhode  Island  [The  Redwood  Library] , 
though  built  of  wood,  was  a  strudture  of  uncommon 
beauty;  I  remember  it  with  admiration,  and  I  could 
once  appeal  to  the  known  taste  of  an  old  school-fellow. 


» 


Notes  327 

Stuart  the  painter,  who  had  the  same  feeling  towards  it." 
In  closing  he  adds:  "Travelling  reminds  me  of  emi- 
gration, and  here  let  me  give  a  word  of  advice  to  those 
who  are  so  passionately  fond  of  emigrating  to  America. 
America  does  not  want  beggars,  nor  the  idle  or  seditious 
man,  nor  the  luxurious  nor  the  voluptuous  man, — all 
these  will  find  it  both  easier  and  pleasanter  to  spend 
their  time  in  the  old  countries,  as  the  Yankie  used  to 
call  them.  It  calls  for  handicraft  men  and  artificers.  The 
wages  of  labour  are  high,  and  the  demand  for  hands 
great;  nor  has  that  country  any  obje6lion  to  the  admis- 
sion of  men  of  fortune,  of  improved  taste  and  rational 
habits  controulled  by  reason;  but  I  have  often  lamented 
to  see  the  exportations  of  idle,  vitious  and  turbulent 
men,  issuing  forth  to  disturb  the  peace  and  innocence  of 
that  happy  people,  as  if  every  idle  vagabond  thought  that 
noble  country  was  just  the  proper  receptacle  for  him." 
This  paper  was  reprinted,  but  without  some  of  its 
interesting  notes,  in  the  Rhode  Island  Historical  Maga- 
%ine  (Newport)  for  January,  1886. 

708    ''Capt.  Benjamin  Jefferson.'' 

In  the  lists  of  pew-holders  in  Trinity  Church,  New- 
port, of  1753  and  1762,  the  name  of  Benjamin  Jeffer- 
son appears.  In  1762,  Benjamin  Jefferson  was  ele6led 
one  of  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Narragansett, 
and  in  1764,  as  Captain  Benjamin  Jefferson,  he  be- 
came one  of  the  wardens.  As  the  name  seems  to  have 
disappeared  from  the  records  of  Trinity  Church  after 
1762,  it  is  likely  that  the  bearer  of  it  in  Newport  re- 
moved to  Narragansett  at  about  that  time.  In  connec- 
tion with  the  baptism,  recorded  in  the  text,  it  is  ex- 
pressly stated,  in  i  771, that  it  and  the  preceding  Easter 
service  occurred  at  Captain  Jefferson's  house.  In  ac- 
cordance with  the  use  of  the  term  "son-in-law"  at 
that  day,  it  is  probable  that  Benjamin  Nason,  father 
of  the  child,  was  a  son  of  Mrs.  Jefferson  by  a  former 
husband,  and  a  stepson  of  Captain  Jefferson.  A  cer- 
tain "James  Nason,  whose  eldest  son  appears  in  the 
North  Kingstown  records  as  Benjamin  Jefferson  Na- 
son, and  whose  second  son, like  the  child  baptized,  was 


328  Notes 

named  Elisha,  was  probably  another  stepson  of  Cap- 
tain Jefferson. 

709  "Mr.  Bovyer" 

This  is  doubtless  Stephen  Bovyer,  who  was  elected  a 
church  warden  of  St.  Paul's  in  1764,  and  whose  name 
appears  frequently  in  both  the  parish  records  and  those 
of  the  Colony.  He  was  a  tenant  of  George  Rome,*^'and 
afterwards  occupied  his  confiscated  farm  as  a  tenant 
of  the  government,  not  always  without  a  suspicion  of 
disloyalty,  although  he  was  able  to  retain  the  lease.  His 
prior  history  is  unknown.  He  was,  however,  evidently 
a  decided  Churchman  and  probably  an  Englishman,  or 
possibly  French.  The  Dorothy  Bovyer°°°  who  was  the 
third  wife  of  Major  Samuel  Phillips  appears  to  have 
been  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Bovyer.  A  granddaughter  of 
Samuel  and  Dorothy,  living  in  the  present  generation 
(1907), was  named  Margaret  Bo'vyerY\ii\Yv^s.  The  name 
is  sometimes  spelled  Bowyer  in  the  colonial  records, and 
sometimes  Boyer,  but  according  to  the  Narragansett 
Parish  Register  Bovyre  is  the  correct  form,  and  to  the 
traditions  of  the  Phillips  family  Bovyer. 

710  ^^ Andrew  A.  Harwood^  U.S.  N." 
Rear-Admiral  Andrew  Allen  Harwood  was  born .  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1802,  and  died  in  Marion,  Massachu- 
setts, August  28,  1884.  His  principal  work  was  The 
Law  and  Pra£iice  of  the  United  States  Navy  Courts- 
Martial  {\%b']').  In  addition  to  the  places  here  cited 
by  Admiral  Harwood,  reference  may  be  made  to  Shake- 
speare's Henry  VIII^  v.  iv.,  also,  where  at  the  christen- 
ing of  the  princess,  Elizabeth,  the  King  exclaims: 

"My  noble  gossips,  ye  have  been  too  prodigal^ 
In  both  the  two  preceding  scenes,  spoons  are  men- 
tioned as  christening  gifts,  the  King  remarking,  when 
Archbishop  Cranmer  appears  to  deprecate  the  honour  of 
being  godfather  to  the  "fair  young  maid": 

"•Come^  come,  my  lord,  you'd  spare  your  spoons.^* 

711  ^^Communicated  At  the  altar. ^^ 

The  occasion  of  Mr.  Fayerweather's  being  at  liberty, 


Notes  329 

at  this  period,  to  officiate  so  frequently  away  from  home 
and,  as  in  this  case,  to  attend  worship  in  the  congre- 
gation, was  the  fa6l  that  St.  Paul's  Church  was  under- 
going repairs  and  was  not  in  a  condition  to  be  occu- 
pied. A  difference  of  opinion  had  arisen  in  the  parish 
as  to  the  comparative  expediency  of  making  such  re- 
pairs or  building  a  new  church  on  the  "hill  lot,"  given 
by  Dr.  MacSparran  for  the  purpose.  "  On  Saturday  the 
19''' of  Odiober  [1771]  towards  Evening  a  Daughter 
of  the  Parish  Clerk  brought  to  the  Parsonage,  a  letter 
from  Peter  Phillips  Esq.^oneofthe  Church  Wardens ^^2^.^^ 
the  1 7'*'  Day  of  06lober,which  Mr  F  Received,  Wherein 
He  acquaints  him.  Viz.,  'That  the  Roof  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  North  Kingstown,  is  Taken  off  in  order  to  put 
a  New  One  On,  therefore  it  Will  not  be  fit  to  hold 
Church  in  Until  Repaired.'  In  Consequence  of  which, 
Sunday  20'''  October  We  had  the  beginning  of  Silent 
Sundays  for  a  long  Space."  After  a  season,  Mr.  Fayer- 
weather  began  to  hold  services  in  private  houses,  but  it 
was  not  until  Easter,  1 773, that  he  again  officiated  in  the 
church,  which  had,  in  the  meantime,  had  a  new  roof 
put  upon  it. 

712    "  "the  Rev\  Mr.  Keith." 

The  Register  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport,  contains 
the  following  entry:  "January  8,  1772.  Rev.  Alexander 
Keith,  Jr., died  and  was  buried  in  the  Church-yard."  Dr. 
Stiles  mentions,  in  his  Diary^  being  one  of  the  pall- 
bearers on  that  occasion.  Mr.  Keith  was  born  in  Aber- 
deen, Scotland  (presumably  somewhat  previously  to 
1 700),  and  educated  at  King's  College  (now  the  Uni- 
versity of  Aberdeen)  in  that  city.  After  his  ordination 
he  officiated  for  ten  years  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Aber- 
deen. On  then  emigrating  to  America,  he  was  placed 
in  charge  of  the  church  at  Georgetown,  South  Caro- 
lina, and  presided  over  it  for  twenty-five  years,  being 
followed  there,  about  1756,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fayer- 
weather.  Neither  the  occasion  nor  the  date  of  Mr.  Keith's 
removal  to  Newport  is  known,  although  he  is  said  to 
have  been  a  relative  of  James  Keith,  who  was  promi- 


330  Notes 

nent  in  Trinity  Church  from  about  1762  to  his  death, 
in  1 780, the  two  being  buried  side  by  side  in  the  church- 
yard. Many  invahds  from  the  south  were  accustomed 
at  that  period  to  repair  to  Newport  for  the  restoration 
of  their  health.  Alexander  Keith  does  not  appear  to  have 
ever  been  a  missionary  of  the  Venerable  Society.  Whether 
or  not  he  was  a  kinsman  of  the  distinguished  Rev.  George 
Keith  (born  1638),  the  first  missionary  of  the  Society, 
cannot  now  be  asserted.  The  fa6t  that  they  both  origi- 
nated in  Aberdeen  makes  a  relationship,  perhaps  that  of 
grandfather  and  grandson,  exceedingly  probable. 

713    "Mr  Sylvester  Sweet." 

There  was  nothing  in  this  peaceful  and  apparently  joy- 
ful marriage  to  foreshadow  the  clouds  which  were  soon 
to  encompass  the  happy  couple.  About  three  years  later, 
at  the  opening  of  the  Revolutionary  struggle,  Sylvester 
enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  State,  in  a  company  com- 
manded by  Captain  Westcott.  On  December  10, 1775, 
Captain  Wallace,  commander  of  the  British  ship  Rose 
(the  vessel  on  which  George  Rome,  as  has  been  seen, 
made  his  escape),  landed  at  the  East  Ferry,  on  Conani- 
cut  Island,  and,  while  crossing  to  the  West  Ferry, 
burned  all  the  dwellings  near  the  road,  twelve  in  num- 
ber, plundered  the  inhabitants,  and  carried  off  a  quantity 
of  live  stock.  Among  the  prisoners  seized  and  carried 
away  on  this  occasion  was  Sylvester  Sweet.  At  the  May 
session  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  1776,  there  was 
passed  the  following  resolution : 

"Whereas  Mrs.  Martha  Sweet,  the  wife  of  Sylvester 
Sweet,  by  petition  represented  unto  this  Assembly,  that 
her  husband,  inspired  by  a  zeal  for  the  liberties  of  his 
country,  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  colony,  in  Captain 
Westcott's  company,  and  had  the  misfortune  to  be  taken 
prisoner  by  the  ministerial  fleet,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Wallace,  in  the  late  attack  on  Jamestown,  in 
December  last, and  sent  to  Boston;  and  that  she  is  now 
in  a  poor  state  of  health  and  unable  to  support  herself; 
and,  thereupon,  prayed  that  this  Assembly  would  con- 
sider her  poor  and  deplorable  circumstances  and  order 


Notes  331 

her  husband's  wages  to  be  paid  to  her.  And  the  pre- 
mises being  duly  considered, — It  is,  therefore,  voted  and 
resolved,  that  the  committee  of  safety  pay  to  the  said 
Martha  Sweet  two  months  of  her  husband's  wages." 

At  the  same  session,  in  apparent  expe6lation  of  the 
prisoner's  speedy  release,  Sylvester  Sweet  was  chosen 
ensign  in  the  second  "  trained  band  or  company  of  mili- 
tia" of  North  Kingstown.  But  such  good  fortune  was 
not  in  store  for  him.  He  remained  a  prisoner,  confined 
on  board  the  Rose  and  a  prison-ship  in  England,  for  two 
years.  He  was  then  transferred  to  a  ship  in  the  British 
service  and  forced  to  perform  duty  upon  it.  Not  until 
the  cessation  of  hostilities,  in  1783,  was  Sweet  dis- 
missed, with,  it  should  be  acknowledged,  the  due  pay- 
ment of  his  wages,  and  permitted  to  return  to  Rhode 
Island.  During  this  absence  of  eight  years  it  does  not 
appear  that  his  wife  received  from  the  State  govern- 
ment anything  but  the  month's  wages,  in  1776.  At 
the  October  session  of  the  Assembly,  however,  a  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  Esek  Hopkins,  Paul  Allen,  and 
Rouse  J.  Helme,  reported  that  "  if  the  sum  of  twenty 
pounds  be  granted  unto  the  said  Sweet,  it  will  be  doing 
justice  to  the  State  and  said  Sweet."  (Arnold's  History 
of  Rhode  Island^n.  364 ;  Rhode  Island  Colonial  Records, 
vii.  512,  513,  516;  X.  149.) 

714    '■^Jeremiah  What  ley '^ 

Jeremiah  Whaley  (or  Whailey)  was  the  fourth  son  of 
Samuel,  the  only  son  of  Theophilus  Whaley,  the  first 
holder  of  the  name  in  Rhode  Island.  Theophilus  was 
born,  it  is  said,  in  161 6,  and  died  about  1720.  About 
1670,  he  married  Elizabeth  Mills.  He  is  said  to  have 
belonged  to  a  family  of  wealth  in  England,  and  to  have 
received  a  collegiate  education.  The  remark  is  attributed 
to  him  that,  "until  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  he  knew 
not  what  it  was  to  want  a  servant,  to  attend  him  with 
a  silver  ewer  and  napkin,  whenever  he  desired  to  wash 
his  hands."  At  about  that  time  he  came  to  Virginia, 
where  he  served  in  a  military  capacity,  but  soon  re- 
turned to  England  and  became  an  officer  in  the  Par- 


332  Notes 

liamentary  army.  In  1649,  ^^^  regiment  participated  in 
the  execution  of  King  Charles  I. 

In  1660,  Colonel  Whaley  revisited  Virginia,  married 
there,  and  had  several  children  born  in  that  State  before 
removing  to  Kingstown,  Rhode  Island,  in  1680.  There 
he  lived  by  fishing,  weaving,  teaching, and  writing  deeds 
and  other  papers  for  his  neighbours.  In  17 10  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  land,  in  East  (now  West) 
Greenwich,  were  conveyed  to  him,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing year  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  united  with  him  in  convey- 
ing the  same  quantity  of  land,  and  probably  the  iden- 
tical traft,  to  his  son  Samuel  "  for  love."  In  the  latter 
part  of  his  life.  Colonel  Whaley  removed  to  the  resi- 
dence of  his  daughter  Martha,  who  married  Joseph 
Hopkins,  of  Hopkins  Hill,  on  the  southwestern  side  of 
Carr's  Pond,  in  West  Greenwich,  where  he  died. 

The  date  of  the  birth  of  Samuel  Whaley,  son  of 
Theophilus,  is  unrecorded,  but  as  Mrs.  Hopkins,  the 
sister  next  but  one  older  than  himself,  is  known  to  have 
been  born  in  1680,  it  may  be  placed  at  about  1684.  He 
married,  first,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Susannah  Hop- 
kins, having  by  her  two  sons;  and,  second.  Patience,  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  Hearnden,  by  whom  he 
had  five  children,  Jeremiah, the  subje6l  of  this  Note,  be- 
ing the  second.  The  date  of  the  death  of  Samuel  Whaley 
is  doubtful.  His  youngest  child  was  born  in  1729.  The 
statement  of  Dr.  Stiles,  on  the  authority  of  a  descend- 
ant, that  he  died  in  1782,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven, 
is  manifestly  erroneous,  as  it  would  make  his  birth  occur 
when  his  mother  was  sixty  and  his  father  eighty-nine. 
This  date  is,  however,  probable  for  his  son  Samuel, 
who  is  represented  in  the  Colonial  Records  (iv.  505)  as 
becoming  a  freeman  of  South  Kingstown  in  1735.  The 
date  of  the  birth  of  Jeremiah  Whaley,  who  "gave  away 
the  bride,"  in  the  marriage  recorded  in  the  text,  is  not 
ascertained,  but,  by  comparison  with  that  of  his  younger 
sister,  Sarah  (born  August  11,  1729),  appears  to  have 
been  about  1723.  (Austin's  Genealogical  D'i£lionary  of 
Rhode  Island^  p.  221.) 


Notes  333 

7 1 5  "Major  Richard  Smith." 

As  appears  in  Note  1 1 ,  the  probabilities  are  much  against 
thetradition  that  Richard  Smith,  junior,  was  an  officer  in 
Cromwell's  army.  In  any  case  he  was  but  about  eigh- 
teen years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  execution  of  King 
Charles  I,  and  could  not  have  been  associated  with  the 
regicides.  It  is  therefore  im.probable  that  he  and  The- 
ophilus  Whailey  (or  Whaley)  had  much  in  common  to 
draw  them  together.  Moreover,  in  the  absence  of  posi- 
tive evidence,  it  is  safer  to  assert  that  there  is  no  existing 
proof  of  their  having  associated  together  than  to  declare, 
at  the  distance  of  two  centuries,  that  they  never  did  so. 

716  "Dr.  MacSparrayiy  whose  farm  was  within  one 
mile  of  IVhailey's  residence.'" 

A  comparison  of  dates  shows  that  Dr.  MacSparran  could 
hardly  have  been  brought  into  contaft  with  Colonel 
Whailey  (or  Whaley).  At  the  period  of  the  Doctor's 
arrival  in  Narragansett,  in  1 721, the  Colonel  appears  to 
have  been  away  from  Kingstown  for  at  least  a  half  dozen 
years  and  to  have  been  then,  probably,  already  dead,  hav- 
ing removed  to  West  Greenwich  at  the  time  of  the  death 
of  his  wife,  about  1 7 1 5,  to  live  with  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Hopkins,  and  having  died  about  1 7  2 1 .  While,  therefore. 
Dr.  MacSparran  must  have  heard  his  strange  story  men- 
tioned, there  was  nothing  to  give  it  prominence  in  his 
sight. 

7 1 7  "Moved  to  West  Greenwich^  and  re  sided  on  a  farm." 
As  has  been  already  noticed  (Note  714),  in  1709—10 
Theophilus  Whaley  had  conveyed  to  him  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  East  Greenwich 
(since  1741  West  Greenwich),  and  deeded  it,  during 
one  of  the  following  years,  to  his  only  son,  Samuel. 
Preferring  to  live  in  Kingstown,  Samuel  transferred  the 
estate,  about  1713,  to  Joseph  Hopkins,  the  husband 
of  his  sister  Martha.  Since  that  date  the  farm  has  re- 
mained in  the  possession  of  the  Hopkins  family  for 
nearly  two  centuries,  being  now  (1907),  or  lately,  the 
property  of  Henry  Clarke  Hopkins.  Many  Whaley  s,de- 


334  Notes 

scendants  of  Samuel,  have  since  lived  in  both  North 
Kingstown  and  South, a  hotel  at  Narragansett  Pier, kept 
by  one  of  the  family,  having  been  know^n  as  the  "  Wha- 
ley  House." 

718  '■^'T'he  late  Judge  Hopkins.'* 

Samuel  Hopkins,  a  justice  of  the  court  of  common 
pleas  for  Kent  County,  Rhode  Island  (born  in  Kings- 
town, January  6,  1703-4),  was  the  second  son  of  Jo- 
seph and  Martha  (Whaley)  Hopkins  and  a  grandson 
of  Theophilus  Whaley,  the  reputed  regicide.  He  lived 
at  the  homestead  on  Hopkins  Hill,  and  was  known 
throughout  the  region  as  "Judge  Sam."  President  Stiles, 
who  visited  him  September  24,  1785,  for  the  purpose 
of  eliciting  information  about  his  grandfather,  remarks, 
*'  He  was  a  man  of  good  sense  and  accurate  informa- 
tion, had  been  in  civil  improvement,  a  member  of  the 
Assembly  and  Judge  of  the  Court."  Judge  Hopkins 
married,  April  23,  1730,  Honor,  a  daughter  of  Alex- 
ander Brown,  of  North  Kingstown,  and  a  granddaugh- 
ter of  Beriah  and  Abigail  (Phenix)  Brown.'"  He  died 
in  West  Greenwich,  April  14,  1790. 

719  "'The  grave  is  near  the  highway.** 

To  show  how  naturally  and  quickly  legends,  ho wever  ex- 
travagant, may  grow  up  around  scenes  with  historical 
associations,  the  following  veritable  relation^taken  from 
a  current  newspaper,  may  be  quoted: 

"A  Haunted  Rock.  The  New  York  Sun  publishes 
the  following  interesting  story  from  the  pen  of  a  special 
correspondent  at  Hopkins  Hill: 

"  In  the  midst  of  a  deep  wood,  not  far  from  this  beau- 
tiful village  in  western  Rhode  Island,  is  an  enchanted 
rock.  It  is  a  common  boulder,  about  four  feet  across 
the  top,  and  not  more  than  two  feet  high.  Around  it  is 
a  shallow  furrow.  Tall  trees  bend  above  it,  and  it  is 
only  in  midsummer  that  the  vertical  sun  pierces  the 
interlacing  boughs.  The  whole  wood  bears  an  uncanny 
reputation  in  local  tradition,  and  within  the  memory  of 
the  older  inhabitants  witches  are  said  to  have  been  seen 
flitting  about  the  outskirts  of  the  forests.  The  neigh- 


Notes  335 

bourhood  of  the  rock  is  especially  shunned,  and  belated 
children  returning  from  a  berrying  trip  on  the  hills  hasten 
their  footsteps  as  they  pass  the  dreaded  boulder.  More 
than  two  hundred  years  ago  the  regicides,  GofFe  and 
Whaley,  fled  from  Point  Judith  to  this  place,  and  since 
that  time  the  rock  has  been  known  as  Witch  Rock.  An 
aged  Rhode  Islander  related  its  legend  the  other  day:  'A 
couple  of  hundred  years  ago,'  he  said, '  when  settlers  had 
begun  to  break  ground  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Hopkins 
Hill,  a  witch  made  her  home  in  a  cabin  that  had  been 
abandoned  by  a  pioneer,  close  to  Witch  Rock.  Every- 
thing within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  rock  became  en- 
chanted, and  she  caused  the  settlers  many  annoyances 
by  her  pranks.  Tools  that  were  left  out  over  night  mys- 
teriously disappeared,  cattle  were  affliited  with  singular 
diseases,  stones  were  hurled  through  window-panes  by 
unseen  hands,  and  whenever  a  hail-storm  or  a  hurricane 
swept  over  the  hills  destroying  crops,  people  saw  her  fly- 
ing through  the  air,  driving  the  storm  onward  with  her 
broom.  At  last  she  was  driven  out  of  the  settlement,  but 
the  rock  and  all  the  ground  about  it  have  remained  en- 
chanted to  this  day.  I  can  recolle6l  when  the  wood  was 
clear  land, but  it  was  never  possible  to  plough  within  one 
hundred  yards  of  the  bewitched  stone.  As  soon  as  the 
witch's  line  was  passed,  it  is  said,  ofF  went  the  plough- 
chip,  which  is  now  called  the  land-side,  and  which  at  that 
time  was  of  wood.  You  might  fasten  the  chip  on  again 
if  you  could  find  it,  but  ofFit  would  go  just  as  soon  as  the 
team  was  started.  The  last  attempt  to  plough  near  the 
rock  was  made  by  an  old  man  named  Reynolds,  about 
eighty  or  ninety  years  ago.  He  said  that  he  could  put  on 
a  plough-chip  so  it  would  stay,  and  many  neighbours 
gathered  to  see  the  trial.  Reynolds  started  into  the  field, 
and  the  plough  ran  smoothly  enough  until  he  crossed 
the  witch's  line,  and  all  of  a  sudden  the  chip  flew  off. 
The  plough  edged  away,  and  there  were  a  good  many 
white  faces,  for  nobody  knew  what  would  happen  next. 
But  the  old  ploughman  was  not  at  all  disheartened.  He 
soon  found  the  chip  in  the  furrow,  under  a  turf,  and  he 
picked  it  up  and  clapped  it  on  the  framework.  Again  the 


336  Notes 

team  was  started,  but  in  a  jiffy  away  flew  the  chip  again 
and  vanished  in  the  air,  and  the  oxen  were  found  to  be 
unyoked.  Mr.  Reynolds  hunted  the  furrow  over,  but 
could  not  find  the  missing  piece.  After  this  the  crowd 
edged  away,  slowly  at  first,  but,  as  soon  as  they  were 
out  of  the  old  man's  sight,  away  they  sped  home.' " 

720    "103  when  he  died.** 

The  latest  statement  of  the  mysterious  case  of  Theo- 
philus  Whaley,  judiciously  prepared  by  a  descendant, 
Mr.  Charles  W.  Hopkins,  of  Providence,  for  Cole's 
History  of  Washington  and  Kent  Counties^  presents  per- 
haps as  fair  and  full  an  account  of  the  matter  as  is 
now  attainable,  and  is  as  follows:  "A  careful  study  of 
the  life  of  Theophilus  Whaley  and  of  the  additional 
fails,  which  have  been  brought  to  light  since  the  pub- 
lication of  The  Three  Judges  [by  Dr.  Stiles] ,  nearly 
a  century  ago,  enables  the  writer  to  form  the  following 
conclusions  :  that  Theophilus  Whaley  had  been  an  of- 
ficer in  the  parliamentary  army  in  the  Civil  War  and  had 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  execution  of  the  king;  that 
he  was  of  the  Whalley  [as  spelled  in  England]  family, 
a  wealthy  family  closely  allied  to  the  Cromwells  and 
prominent  in  the  Civil  War ;  that  he  was  born  in  England 
about  161 7  and  was  the  son  of  Richard  and  Frances 
(Cromwell)  Whalley;  and  that  he  was  identical  with 
Robert  Whalley,  a  brother  of  Edward,  the  regicide,  who 
is  said  to  have  been  'a  lieutenant  under  Cromwell'  and 
'an  officer  in  Hacker's  Regiment.'  Hacker  commanded 
at  the  execution  of  the  king  and  was  himself  executed 
in  1660.  In  support  of  this  theory  the  following  evi- 
dence is  adduced:  (i)  His  name,  verified  by  the  ac- 
count of  the  visit  of  his  cousin.  Captain  Whaley,  of  the 
war-ship,  which  anchored  in  Narragansett  Bay  in  the 
time  of  Queen  Anne's  war. 

"(2)  His  account  of  his  family,  their  opulence,  and  of 
his  early  life,  verified  by  his  education  and  general  de- 
portment. 

"  (3)  The  mysterious  visits  from  the  wealthy  and  promi- 
nent men  of  Boston,  who  secretly  visited  him  and  sup- 


Notes  337 

plied  him  with  money,  from  time  to  time,  and  who  had 
so  favourably  received  Whalley  and  Goffe  upon  their 
landing  in  Boston,  a  few  years  before,  and  who  were 
probably  the  agents  through  whom  the  regicides  received 
their  remittances  from  England,  as  stated  by  Governor 
Hutchinson,  in  his  History,  who  knew  Theophilus  to 
be  of  the  same  family. 

"(4)  The  age  of  Theophilus,  103,  and  the  date  of  his 
death,  not  far  from  1720,  attested  by  three  persons, — 
Hon.  Francis  Willet,  who  wrote  his  will;  the  aged  Mr. 
Hamilton,  who  attended  his  funeral;  and  his  grandson, 
Judge  Samuel  Hopkins,  fix  the  date  of  his  birth  near 
161 7,  some  two  or  three  years  later  than  the  birth  of 
Edward  Whalley.  Robert  Whalley  was  a  brother  of 
Edward  and  is  believed  to  have  been  a  few  years  younger 
than  Edward.  GofFe's  journal  mentions  Robert. 
"(5)  The  recurrence  of  given  names  is  noticeable.  The 
maternal  grandmother  of  Robert  Whalley  was  Joan 
Warren,  and  his  mother,  Frances,  had  a  sister  Joan 
Cromwell  and  a  brother  Robert  Cromwell,  who  was 
the  father  of  Oliver  and  who,  also,  had  a  daughter  Joan. 
Theophilus's  oldest  child  was  named  Joan  and  a  grand- 
son, the  son  of  his  daughter  Martha,  with  whom  he 
passed  his  declining  years,  was  named  Robert  Hopkins, 
a  name  given  him,  presumably ,  by  his  grandfather,  Theo- 
philus [Robert] . 

"  Of  the  family  of  Richard  Whalley  and  his  wife, 
Frances  Cromwell,  the  following  account  is  given. 
They  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  viz.:  Thomas, 
who  married  Mary  Peniston ;  Edward,  the  regicide,  who 
married,  first,  Judith  Duff'el  and,  second,  Mary  Mid- 
dleton  ;  Henry,  who  married  Rebecca  DufFel,  sister  of 
Judith;  Robert,  'Lieutenant  under  Cromwell,  died  un- 
married'; Elizabeth;  Jane.  There  is  no  mention  made 
of  children  of  Thomas.  Edward's  eldest  son,  John,  was 
born  in  1633.  Henry  had  a  son  John,  who  died  in  1691. 
Elizabeth  married  William  Tiffin,  of  London.  Jane 
married  Reverend  William  Hooke,  M.  A.,  Trinity  Col- 
lege, Oxford,  Robert  alone  remains  unaccounted  for, 
aside  from  the  meagre  record  of  the  Harleian  Society, 


338  Notes 

given  above.  Upon  the  accession  of  Charles  II  in  1660, 
his  friends  w^ould  naturally  endeavour  to  screen  him  from 
the  threatened  danger  and,  after  the  prolonged  absence 
of  years,  the  report  that  he  had  died  w^ould  gain  cre- 
dence. 

"The  plain  inference  must  be,  that,  at  the  Restora- 
tion, he  was  forced  to  flee  for  safety  and  so  escape  the 
fate,  which  befell  Hacker  and  others,  who  had  taken 
a  prominent  part  in  the  execution  of  the  king,  and  that 
he,  doubtless,  fled  from  England  and  secreted  himself  in 
America,  and  that  his  subsequent  career  can  be  traced 
only  in  the  records  of  the  life  of  Theophilus  Whaley  in 
Virginia  and  in  the  Narragansett  country." 

Although  this  picturesque  and  romantic  tradition  is 
hardly  authenticated  by  positive  records,  yet  the  persis- 
tence with  which  it  has  been  believed  by  those  living 
near  the  time  and  in  the  locality  seems  to  point  to  an 
element  of  truth  in  the  story. 

721    ^^"The  Reverend  Do^or  Mather  Byles." 

Dr.  Byles  was  the  second  of  the  name  prominent  in 
theannalsof  Boston. The  Rev.  Dr.  Mather  Byles, senior, 
distinguished  for  his  wit  and  eloquence  as  well  as  his  po- 
etic ability,  was  long  the  pastor  of  the  HoUis  Street  Con- 
gregational Society.  His  son  Mather,  the  one  referred  to 
in  the  text,  was  born  January  12,  1735,  and  graduated 
at  Harvard  College  in  1 75 1 .  At  first  he  was  ordained  as 
a  Congregational  minister,  and  settled  for  some  time  in 
New  London,  Connecticut.  In  April,  1 768,  he  was,  at 
his  own  request,  dismissed  from  that  charge  and,  a  few 
days  later,  accepted  the  rectorship  of  Christ  Church, 
Boston.  In  May  of  that  year,  Mr.  Byles  sailed  for  Eng- 
land, and  was,  soon  after  his  arrival,  ordained  by  the  Bi- 
shop of  London,  receiving  the  degree  of  DoCtor  in  Di- 
vinity from  Oxford  University.  After  having  served  for 
nearly  seven  years  in  Christ  Church,  he  resigned  that 
charge,  in  1775,  intending  to  take  up  the  mission,  to 
which  he  had  been  appointed  by  the  Venerable  Society, 
in  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  although  the  state  of 
the  country  eventually  prevented  his  removal  to  that 


«_^^^/^.  ti.^^pi^*'-  J^fiM'j^'j 


^f^-'A^i^i^tyj^ty 


Notes  339 

town.  Being  a  tory,  he  went  away  from  Boston  with  the 
British  forces,  served  for  a  while  as  a  chaplain,  and  was 
finally  appointed,  in  1791,  missionary  at  St.  John, New 
Brunswick, where  he  died  in  18 14.  The  "truly  honour- 
able society"  was,  of  course,  that  of  the  Free  Masons. 

722  "  T^he  Christian  DoSfrine  .  .  .  ^ Of  loving  One  An- 
other.^ " 

A  perusal  of  the  writings  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  and 
especially  of  the  third  and  fourth  chapters  of  his  first  epi- 
stle, from  which  the  above  phrase  appears  to  have  been 
taken,  and  a  comparison  of  their  contents  with  the  very 
brief  recorded  utterances  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  begin- 
ning, in  at  least  one  case,  with  the  exclamation, "  O  gener- 
ation of  vipers,"  leaves  it  almost  impossible  to  avoid  the 
conclusion  that  the  two  sacred  personages  have  been 
here  confused  with  each  other.  Without  its  being  ex- 
pressly stated  that  "loving  one  another"  was  the  theme 
of  the  "discourse  adapted  to  the  occasion  and  to  that 
day,"  yet  the  manner  of  the  introdudion  of  the  quo- 
tation strongly  suggests  that  it  was  so.  In  that  case,  one 
can  hardly  help  wondering  how  the  "  brilliant  and  splen- 
did .  .  .  assembly"  was  afFedted  by  the  rather  incongru- 
ous collocation. 

723  '"The  Rev^  Mr.  Walter r 

The  Rev.  Dr.  William  Walter  (born  at  Roxbury,  Oc- 
tober 7,  1737)  was  the  eldest  son  of  a  Congregational 
minister,  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Walter.  He  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1756,  was  ordained  by  the  Bishop 
of  London  in  1764,  and  became,  on  his  return  from 
England,  the  assistant  minister  of  Trinity  Church,  Bos- 
ton, and,  in  1767,  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Hooper,  the 
re6tor.  Being  a  loyalist,  he  removed  to  Halifax  in  1776, 
but  returned  to  Boston  and  became  re6lor  of  Christ 
Church  in  1792,  dying  in  1800.  He  was  an  accom- 
phshed  gentleman,  and  received  the  degree  of  Do6lor 
in  Divinity  from  Aberdeen  in  1785. 

724  ^'■Tauntouny 

St.  Thomas's  Church,  Taunton,  Massachusetts,  dates 


340  Notes 

its  earliest  existence  from  1739-40,  when  the  Rev.  John 
Checkley,  re6lor  of  King's  Church,  Providence,  at  the 
request  of  the  Rev.  Commissary  Price,  began  to  hold 
services  there,  at  a  distance  of  twenty  miles  from  his 
residence,  with  an  attendance  of  more  than  three  hun- 
dred, many  of  them  never  before  in  any  Christian 
Church.  In  i746,theRev.  JohnUsher,ofBristol,Rhode 
Island,  officiated,  as  opportunity  offered,  at  Taunton,  a 
manse  and  glebe  being  procured  by  the  people  at  about 
the  same  period.  In  1 755,,the  Rev.  John  Graves  was  ap- 
pointed missionary  at  Providence  and  dire6led  to  offi- 
ciate also  at  Taunton.  The  Rev.  John  Lyon^"^  was  the 
first  resident  minister  of  the  Church  in  this  town,  arriv- 
ing about  1764.  In  1767,  a  small  church  edifice  was 
erefted,  which  was  used  occasionally  after  the  close  of 
the  Revolutionary  War,  but  gradually  went  to  decay  and 
was  finally  "accidentally  demolished." 

St.  Thomas's  Church,  Taunton,  first  appeared  in 
the  list  of  churches  in  the  diocese  of  Massachusetts 
in  1828,  when  the  Rev.  John  West  was  the  minister. 
Since  that  period  the  parish  has  gone  steadily  on  to  its 
present  strong  position,  with  a  succession  of  able  and 
godly  reftors,  among  whom  may  be  mentioned  the 
Rev.  Thomas  H.  Vail,  D.  D.,  who  became  the  first 
Bishop  of  Kansas. 

725    ''The  late  Rev^  Do^or  Sewal'* 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Sewal  (or  Sewall),  D.D.  (born  August 
26,1688;  died  June2  7,i769),wasason  of  the  Honour- 
able Judge  Sewal,  of  great  note  in  the  Colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay.  On  his  mother's  side  Joseph  was  a 
grandson  of  John  Hull,^^  one  of  the  Pettaquamscutt 
Purchasers  of  the  Narragansett  country.  He  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1707,  and  was  ordained  Septem- 
ber 16,  1 713,  as  colleague  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Old 
South  Church,  Boston.  In  1724,  he  was  ele6ted  presi- 
dent of  Harvard  College,  but  declined  the  position.  In 
1 731,  he  received  from  the  University  of  Glasgow 
the  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity.  He  was  a  rigid  Cal- 
vinist  and  opposed  to  free  discussion.  His  generosity  to 


Notes  341 

poor  students  and  his  large  gifts  to  the  library  of  Har- 
vard College,  in  connection  with  his  great  general  be- 
nevolence, procured  him  the  enviable  title  of  "  the 
Good."  At  his  death  he  had  been  associated  with  the 
pastoral  work  of  the  "Old  South"  for  fifty-six  years. 
The  child  baptized  appears,  from  a  comparison  of  dates, 
to  have  been  Dr.  Sewal's  great-grandchild. 

726  "^/  CapL  Samuel  Gardners." 

It  seems  certain  that  Captain  Gardiner  is  the  "Sam 
Gardiner"  whose  horse  Dr.  MacSparran  tells,  in  his 
Diary  (OClober  16,  1745),  of  riding.  If  so,  he  was  born 
January  16, 1719-20,  beingasonof  Ephraim  and  Pene- 
lope (Eldred)  Gardiner  and  a  cousin  of  Mrs.  MacSpar- 
ran. 

727  ^^The  Rev^  Mr  TVinslow." 

The  Rev.  Edward  Winslow  (born  in  Boston,  probably 
a  little  previously  to  1725;  died  October  31,  1780) 
was  a  son  of  Joshua  and  Anna  (Green)  Winslow,  and 
was  originally  designed  for  the  Congregational  minis- 
try. Becoming  dissatisfied,  however,  with  Puritanism, 
he  conformed  to  the  Church  of  England  subsequently 
to  his  graduation  at  Harvard  College,  in  1741.  On  ac- 
count of  the  opposition  of  his  father  to  his  entering  the 
ministry  of  the  Church,  he  settled,  as  a  merchant,  in 
Barbadoes,  but  finally,  the  objedlion  being  removed,  he 
was,  in  1755,  ordained  by  the  Bishop  of  London,  and 
appointed  by  the  Venerable  Society  missionary  at  Strat- 
ford, Connecticut.  In  1764,  Mr.  Winslow  assumed 
charge  of  the  vacant  mission  at  Braintree  (Quincy), 
Massachusetts,  continuing  to  minister  there  until  the 
church  was  closed,  in  1777,  by  the  Revolution.  After 
doing  some  duty  as  a  chaplain  in  the  British  army,  in 
New  York  city,  he  died  and  was  buried  under  the  al- 
tar of  St.  George's  Church. 

728  ^^'The  Church  of  England  at  Portsmouth   New 
Hampshire." 

The  original  settlers,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Piscataqua 
River,  as  early  as  1 6  2  3 ,  were  Churchmen  and,  previously 


342  Notes 

to  1638,3  churchandparsonage  had  been  built  in  Ports- 
mouth, on  twelve  acres  of  land  given  for  the  purpose 
in  the  compa6l  part  of  the  town.  The  first  minister  was 
the  Rev.  Richard  Gibson,  who  was  there  not  later  than 
1640,  and  was  banished  by  the  government  of  Massa- 
chusetts within  about  two  years. 

After  a  period  of  ninety  years,  the  Church  was  again 
introduced  into  Portsmouth,  and  a  building  ere6ted  and 
called  "Queen's  Chapel,"  the  Rev.  Arthur  Browne  re- 
moving from  Providence  to  take  charge  of  it,  in  1736. 
It  was  upon  the  death  of  this  faithful  pastor,  June  10, 
1773,  that  the  application,  noted  in  the  text,  was  made 
to  the  convention  at  Boston. 

729  "Mr.  Samuel  Moody T 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Moody  was  a  well-known  clergyman 
of  the  Congregational  order,  in  Newbury  from  1700 
to  the  time  of  his  death,  November  13,  1747.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  College  in  1697,  ^"*^  ^^^  ^  great  power 
among  the  Puritan  churches  of  his  day,  being  instru- 
mental in  founding  a  Congregational  parish  in  Provi- 
dence. It  is  probable  that  the  "Mr.  Samuel  Moody, the 
Preceptor  or  Master"  of  the  Dummer  School  at  New- 
bury, Massachusetts,  in  1773,  was  a  member  of  his 
family,  presumably  a  grandson. 

730  '■^'The  Rev^  Mr  Ssargeant  of  Cambridge." 

The  Rev.  Winwood  Serjeant  is  supposed  to  have  been 
born  in  Bristol,  England,  about  1730.  He  was  ordained 
to  the  priesthood  by  the  Bishop  of  Rochester,  Decem- 
ber 19,  1756,  and  the  same  day  licensed  as  a  mission- 
ary to  South  Carolina,  where,  early  in  i  759,  he  became 
assistant  minister  of  St.  Philip's  Church,  Charleston,  In 
1 76  7,  Mr.  Serjeant  settled  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts, 
as  a  missionary  oftheS.  P.  G.  in  charge  of  Christ  Church, 
continuing  there  in  the  quiet  discharge  of  his  duties  un- 
til about  the  close  of  the  year  1774.  At  the  approach 
of  the  War  ofthe  Revolution,  he  was  obliged,  with  many 
members  of  his  parish,  who  adhered  to  the  royal  cause, 
to  withdraw  from  his  church  and  home  and  retreat  into 
the  wilderness.  For  several  years  after  his  return  from 


Notes  343 

his  refuge  in  New  Hampshire  he  lived  in  Newbury, 
Massachusetts,  where,  in  1 7  7  7,  he  suffered  an  attack  of 
paralysis.  In  the  following  year  he  returned  to  England, 
dying  at  Bath,  September  20,  1780. 

Mr.  Serjeant  married  in  England  before  coming  to 
America.  Upon  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  he  married, 
October  3 1, 1 765,  Mary,  the  third  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
Arthur  Browne,  of  Portsmouth.  It  was  at  their  house 
in  Cambridge  that  Mr.  Browne  met  his  sudden  death, 
June  10,  1773.  Mr.  Serjeant  was  a  cultivated,  modest, 
and  earnest  gentleman,  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  his  calling. 

73 1    "  T^he  Rev^-  Mr  Bailey** 

The  Rev.  Jacob  Bailey  was  born  in  Rowley,  Massa- 
chusetts, in  1 731,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
in  1755.  At  first  he  preached  as  a  Congregationalist, 
but  soon  conformed  to  the  Church,  and  was  ordained,  in 
1760,  to  the  diaconate  by  the  Bishop  of  Rochester,  and 
to  the  priesthood  by  the  Bishop  of  Peterborough.  At  the 
same  time  Mr.  Bailey  was  appointed  to  the  chargeof  Pow- 
nalborough  (or  Frankfort)  and  Georgetown,  in  Maine, 
by  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  For- 
eign Parts.  Having  suffered  in  the  early  part  of  the  Re- 
volutionary struggle  for  his  conscientious  adherence  to 
the  royal  cause,  he  withdrew,  in  June,  1779,  by  per- 
mission of  the  Massachusetts  General  Court,  into  Nova 
Scotia.  There,  a  little  later  in  the  year,  he  took  under 
his  care  the  mission  in  Cornwallis,  and,  in  1782,  that 
of  Annapolis  Royal,  where  he  died,  July  26,  1808,  in 
the  seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age. 

In  later  times  an  admirable  memoir  of  Mr.  Bailey, 
under  the  title  of  The  Frontier  Missionary^  has  been  pre- 
pared by  the  Rev.  William  S.  Bartlett.  In  evil  days  he 
ministered,  as  a  faithful  son  of  consolation,  to  the  poor, 
the  sick,  and  the  affli6ted,  and  set  forth  to  all  who  came 
within  his  circle  of  influence  the  unaffefted  Gospel  of 
Christ,  as  he  gathered  it  from  the  Scriptures  and  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer. 


344  Notes 

732  ^^'The  Rei/  Mr  William  Clark  of  Dedham.''^ 
Mr.  Clark  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Clark,  of  Dan- 
vers,  Massachusetts,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege in  1759.  After  going  to  England  for  ordination, 
he  was  appointed  by  the  Society  missionary  at  Ded- 
ham  and  Stoughton,  Massachusetts,  his  license,  by  the 
Bishop  of  London,  being  dated  December  22,  1768. 
At  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  Mr.  Clark  en- 
dured, on  account  of  his  loyalty  to  the  British  govern- 
ment, rather  harder  treatment  than  did  some  of  his  bre- 
thren, being  driven  from  his  parish  and  compelled  to  take 
refuge  in  the  Old  Country.  Receiving  a  pension  of  ^60 
from  the  Crown,  he  lived  at  first  at  Digby,  Nova  Sco- 
tia, where  he  performed  some  clerical  duty,  and,  from 
about  1790,  at  Quincy,  Massachusetts.  November  4, 
1 8 15,  he  died  at  the  latter  place  and  was  buried  in  the 
church-yard.  Mr.  Clark  married  a  relative  of  Mr.  Sam- 
uel Colburn,  who  had,  a  dozen  years  previously,  be- 
queathed a  large  tra6l  of  valuable  land  and  a  sum  of 
money  to  found  an  Episcopal  Church  in  Dedham. 

733  ^^'^he  Gospel  Advocate" 

This  publication  was  a  monthly  magazine  of  Church 
intelligence,  established  in  January,  1821,  "condu6led 
by  a  Society  of  Gentlemen"  and  published  in  Bos- 
ton by  Joseph  W.  Ingraham.  It  was  formally  recom- 
mended, from  the  outset,  by  Bishop  Griswold,  Dr. 
Gardiner,  Dr.  Jarvis,  and  eight  other  re6lors  of  the 
Eastern  Diocese.  The  volume  of  1824  is  especially 
valuable  as  containing,  in  six  successive  numbers,  the 
journal  of  the  General  Convention  of  1823.  The  Chris- 
tian Witness  and  Church  Advocate  was  a  weekly  Church 
newspaper,  established  in  Boston  in  1835,  and  con- 
tinued for  many  years.  The  Evergreen  was  a  monthly 
Church  magazine  of  merit,  continuing  but  a  few  years. 

734  "Dr.  Parker.'^ 

The  Rt.  Rev.  Samuel  Parker,  D.  D.,  was  the  third  son  of 
the  Honourable  William  Parker,  of  Portsmouth,  New 
Hampshire,  and  was  born  August  17,1 744.  He  gradu- 


I 


Notes  345 

ated  at  Harvard  College  in  1763, and  for  about  ten  years 
taught  school  in  Roxbury  and  other  New  England  towns. 
His  ordination  to  the  diaconate  by  the  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don, in  February,  1774,  and  that  to  the  priesthood,  by 
the  same,  were  separated  by  an  interval  of  only  three 
days.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year,  Mr.  Parker  returned 
to  Boston  and,  on  November  2nd,  entered  upon  his 
duties,  as  assistant  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Walter,  at  Trinity 
Church,  succeeding  to  the  rectorship  in  1779,  three 
years  after  the  death  of  the  Do61:or.  In  1 789, he  received 
the  degree  of  Dodlor  of  Divinity  from  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania.  His  consecration  to  the  episcopate  of 
Massachusetts  occurred  on  the  1 4th  of  September,  1 804, 
and  his  death  on  the  6th  of  the  following  December. 
The  wife  of  Dr.  Parker,  to  whom  he  was  married  in 
November,  1776,  was  Ann,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  John 
Cutler,  of  Boston,  six  sons  and  six  daughters  being  born 
to  them. 

During  the  Revolutionary  War,  by  what  he  consid- 
ered a  necessary  concession  to  public  sentiment,  the  min- 
ister and  later  re61:or  of  Trinity  Church  was  able  to  con- 
tinue in  it  his  valuable  ministrations.  His  thirty-one  years 
of  service  in  that  parish  bore  abundant  and  excellent 
fruits.  His  remains  were  buried  under  the  church  and 
finally  destroyed,  with  the  edifice,  in  the  great  confla- 
gration of  1872.  A  tablet  was  erecSled  to  his  memory,  in 
1 90 1,  in  the  new  church,  with  the  following  inscrip- 
tion, it  being  a  copy  of  that  upon  a  former  similar  me- 
morial, lost  in  the  fire: 

SACRED  TO  THE  MEMORY  OF 

THE  RIGHT  REVEREND  SAMUEL  PARKER,  D.D., 

WHO  WAS  BORN  IN  PORTSMOUTH,  N.  H.,  AUG.   17,  174S, 

AND  DIED  IN  THIS  CITY  DEC.  6,  1804. 

HE  BECAME  ASSISTANT  MINISTER  OF  THIS  CHURCH  IN  1774, 

WAS   CHOSEN  AND  INDUCTED  RECTOR  IN   1779 

AND  CONSECRATED  BISHOP  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 

SEPT.   14,  1804. 

A  CHRISTIAN  SCHOLAR  AND  A  CHRISTIAN  GENTLEMAN, 

HE  SUSTAINED  BY  HIS  LEARNING,  WHILE  HE  ADORNED  BY  HIS  COURTESY, 

THE  OFFICE  OF  A  CHRISTIAN  PASTOR. 

A  CHURCHMAN  OF  THE  PRIMITIVE  STAMP, 

HE  CLUNG  MORE  CLOSELY  TO  THE  CHURCH, 


346  Notes 


AS  HER  AFFLICTIONS  MULTIPLIED,  AND, 

AT  THE  TRYING  PERIOD  OF  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION, 

REMAINED  IN  THIS   CITY  ALONE, 

TO  SERVE  AT  HER  ALTARS  AND  FEED  THE  FLOCK; 

NEVER  INATTENTIVE  TO  HIS  OWN  PAROCHIAL  CHARGE, 

HE  WAS  INSTANT  IN  SEASON  AND  OUT  OF  SEASON  IN  HIS 

VISITS  TO  THE  SMALL  AND  SCATTERED  FOLDS 

OF  HER  COMMUNION  IN  THIS  STATE. 

THE  AIM  OF  HIS  LIFE  WAS  USEFULNESS  ; 

BENEVOLENCE  AND  HOSPITALITY,  ITS  CHIEF  ENJOYMENTS. 

IN  THE  DOMESTIC  CIRCLE,  LOVING  AND  BELOVED; 

HE  WAS  ATTENDED,  IN  HIS  PUBLIC  WALKS, 

BY  UNIVERSAL  AFFECTION  AND  RESPECT. 

IT  PLEASED  HIM 

BY  WHOM  HE  WAS  CALLED  TO  THE  HIGHEST  OFFICE  OF  THE  CHURCH, 

TO  TAKE  HIM  HOME  BEFORE  HE  ENTERED  ON  ITS  DUTIES; 

BUT  TO  ONE,  WHO  HAD  SO  BLENDED 

THE  ACTIVE  MISSIONARY  WITH  THE  FAITHFUL  PARISH  PRIEST, 

THERE  NEEDED  BUT  THE  SPIRITUAL  AUTHORITY, 

TO  COMPLETE  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  BISHOP. 

735  *'  ^^^^  ^^^^  entry r 

The  last  entry  in  the  Narragansett  Register,  during  the 
re6torship  of  Mr.  Fayerweather,  and  the  last  one  of  any 
sort  until  1784,  reads  as  follows : "  On  Sunday  the  Sixth 
Of  November  1774  Mr  F — r  being  Requested  by 
Judge  Browne  to  Preach  On  the  death  Of  A  Neice  Of 
his  Mr  George  Brownes  Daughter  of  About  Two  Years 
Old,  Mr  F —  Preachd  to  A  large  Concourse  of  peo- 
ple A  funeral  Sermon." 

736  ^^  A  violation  of  his  ordination  vows.** 

There  appears  to  be  some  discrepancy  between  this 
statement  in  the  text  and  the  record  of  the  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  explicable,  however, 
upon  the  supposition  that  Mr.  Fayerweather,  at  a  later 
period,  somewhat  changed  his  attitude.  He  remained  a 
missionary  of  the  Society  until  1780,  one  year  before  his 
death,  when  it  is  indicated  that  he  was  dismissed  from 
its  service  for  unsatisfa6lory  condu6l,  he  having  taken 
"the  oaths  to  the  rebel  States  against  approbation  of 
his  parishioners."  (Digest  of  S.  P.  G.  Records,  p.  853.) 

737  "Preached  at  private  houses" 

Mrs.  Anstis  (Updike)  Lee  (born  1 765),  in  a  letter  of  re- 


1 


Notes  347 

miniscences,  written  about  1842,  remarks : "  Mr.  Fayer- 
weather  never  preached  [during  the  Revolutionary  pe- 
riod] except  at  funerals.  I  heard  him  preach  at  uncle  B. 
Gardiner's  son  Benjamin's  funeral,  a  child  about  a  year 
old.  It  was  some  years  before  his  death.  [Benjamin  Gar- 
diner, son  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Wickes)  Gar- 
diner, was  born  in  Boston  Neck,  August  3,  1779,  and 
died  August  3, 1780.]  ...  By  what  James  [James  Up- 
dike, born  1763]  can  recollect  he  left  off  preaching  in 
the  year  1775."  The  Rev.  Joshua  Wingate  Weeks,*"^ 
missionary  at  Marblehead,  Massachusetts  (1762-79), 
in  an  interesting  statement,  sent  to  England,  in  1778, 
concerning  the  condition  of  the  churches  and  congre- 
gations in  New  England,  remarks  : "  Mr.  Fayerweather, 
having  an  excellent  glebe  of  100  acres  and  having  no 
family,  meets  with  no  difficulty  in  living.  His  parish, 
being  small,  never  contributed  anything  to  his  subsis- 
tence." (Hawkins's  Missions  of  the  Church  of  England^ 
p.  256.) 

It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Weeks  was  misinformed  as  to 
the  failure  of  St.  Paul's  parish  to  have  ever  made  any 
contribution  to  Mr.  Fayerweather's  support,  although 
the  statement  was  perhaps  true  as  to  the  disturbed 
period  preceding  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  as 
well  as  to  that  succeeding  it.  In  a  letter  of  Philip  Bear- 
croft,  secretary  of  the  S.  P.  G.,  written  to  Mr.  Fayer- 
weather, from  Charterhouse,  London,  January  29, 
1760,  he  declares  that  "the  Church  of  Narraganset 
hath  Provided  what  they  call  a  Good  house  and  Glebe 
and  Obliged  Themselves  By  a  Writing  to  Pay  Twenty 
Pounds  Sterling  per  annum  To  The  Missionary  of  their 
Church." 

Mr.  Fayerweather  spent  several  weeks  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1 78 1  at  Mr.  Matthew  Robinson's,  near  Kings- 
ton, but  returned  to  the  glebe  and  died  there  on  Au- 
gust 23rd  of  that  year. 

738    "//(?  was  an  able  and  industrious  'preacher y 

Mr.  Daniel  Berkeley  Updike,  of  Boston,  has  a  score 
or  more  of  Mr.  Fayerweather's  manuscript  sermons 


348  Notes 

in  his  coUeftion.  They  are  evidently  prepared  with 
great  carefulness  and  ability.  Several  of  them  contain 
elaborate  quotations,  in  the  original  Latin,  from  Juve- 
nal and  other  classical  authors.  Almost  every  discourse 
is  introduced  with  the  address, "My  brethren."  Among 
these  manuscripts  is  found  a  "Funeral  Prayer,"  com- 
posed, in  solemn  and  touching  language,  for  the  occa- 
sion, referred  to  in  the  Note  next  preceding,  when  the 
Burial  office  was  said  in  church  over  Mr.  Benjamin 
Gardiner's  infant  son. 

73  9    *'  We  close  the  ministry  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Fayer- 
weatherT 

In  the  Harvard  University  records,  under  the  date  of 
1739,  among  thirty-seven  young  men  who  offered 
themselves  for  admission,  the  sixteenth  in  order  is 
"  Samuel  Fayerweather,  born  at  Boston,  Feb^  3, 1724/5, 
aged  14^  ."  There  is  still  in  existence,  or  has  been  at 
a  comparatively  recent  date,  a  parchment,  under  the 
hand  and  seal  of  Zachary,  Bishop  of  Bangor,  certifying 
that  on  Sunday,  March  14,  1756,  he  did  admit  Samuel 
Fayerweather  to  the  Holy  Order  of  Deacons.  A  similar 
one  attests  that  Richard,  Bishop  of  Carlisle,  on  March 
25,  1756,  promoted  the  same  to  the  Holy  Order  of 
Priests.  Along  with  these  was  preserved  Mr,  Fayer- 
weather's  diploma  for  the  degree  of  master  of  arts, 
conferred  by  the  University  of  Oxford,  in  April,  1756, 
^^ad  eundem  etiam  gradum  in  collegia  TalensiJ" 

740    "Afy  silver-framed  square  pi^ure  of  myself ^ 

Mr.  William  Thaddeus  Harris,  of  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts, in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Updike,  under  date  of  No- 
vember 22, 1 846, remarks," There  likewise  exist  indif- 
ferent branches  of  my  family  two  miniatures  of  Fayer- 
weather, set  in  frames  of  solid  silver!  a  mode  of  ex- 
hibiting his  vanity,  which  it  is  said  that  the  Rev.  gen- 
tleman frequently  adopted."  These  would  seem  to  have 
been  in  addition  to  the  two  silver-framed  pi6lures  men- 
tioned in  the  will,  which,  according  to  Mr.  Updike, 
remained  in  South  Kingstown  and  never  reached  the 


Notes  349 

legatees.  Mr.  Harris,  who  was  also  the  possessor  of  the 
documents  described  in  the  Note  next  preceding,  de- 
clared that  he  had,  besides,  the  Fayerweather  coat  of 
arms,  embroidered  in  silk  and  framed  in  a  "lozenge," 
but  failed  to  give  an  account  of  its  charges. 

741  "Tlfy  wife's  picture  of  herself,  to  her  niece  j  the  wife 
of  John  Channing" 

Mrs.  Fayerweather's  brother,  George  Hazard,  mayor 
of  Newport,  had  a  daughter  Abigail  (born  about  1 748), 
who,  July  1, 1 7 74,  married  John  Channing.  There  can 
scarcely  be  a  doubt  that  Mr.  Channing  was  the  eldest 
son  of  John  Channing,  ofNewport,  and  brother  of  Wil- 
liam Channing,  attorney-general  of  Rhode  Island  and 
father  of  the  Rev.  William  Ellery  Channing,  although 
the  editor  is  unable  to  find  an  absolute  verification  of 
the  surmise.  An  old  unsigned  memorandum  states: 
"The  portrait  of  Dr.  Fayerweather's  wife  was  given  to 
Ruth  Channing,  his  wife's  niece,  and  she  gave  it  to  her 
sister,  a  Mrs.  Robinson,  of  Connecticut,  and  she  came 
to  Dr.  George  Hazard's  [Mrs.  John  Channing's  first 
cousin]  and  took  it  where  it  was  hanging  and  carried 
it  away  to  Connecticut.  Mr.  Robinson  was  a  physician 
in  Connecticut."  It  is  probable  that  this  Ruth  Chan- 
ning, the  recipient  of  the  piCture  (as  well,  of  course, 
as  her  sister,  Mrs.  Robinson),  was  a^r^w^niece  of  Mrs. 
Fayerweatherand  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Abigail  Channing. 
There  is  no  question  that  the  name  of  Mrs.  Channing, 
the  legatee  under  the  will,  was  Abigail  rather  than  Ruth 
and  that  she  had  no  sister,  Mrs.  Robinson. 

742  "T*^^  large  pi^ure  painted  by  Copley ^ 

This  fine  portrait  is  now  (1907)  the  property  of  Miss 
Mary  Andros  Eddy  and  MissIsabelEddy,  granddaughters 
of  Mr.  Updike,  who  have  courteously  permitted  it  to 
be  photographed  for  introduction  into  this  work. 

743  "Baptized  forty-five  persons.'' 

The  records  of  the  parish  show  that,  between  1 760  and 
1 774,  Mr.  Fayerweather  baptized  in  Narragan  sett  forty- 
two,  at  Warwick  six,  at  Taunton,  Massachusetts,  one, 


350  Notes 

at  Newport  seven,  at  Marblehead,  Massachusetts,  four, 
and  in  Boston  five,  i.e.^  sixty-five  in  all. 

744   "  The  Rev.  Mr.  Fogg.'' 

The  Narragansett  Parish  Register  shows  that  on  Mon- 
day ,March  29, 1 784,the  parish  metatSt.  Paul's  Church, 
in  North  Kingstown,  and  "Proceeded  to  Apoint  Doc" 
Naham  W.  Willard  &  Mr.  John  Gardiner  to  Right 
to  the  Reverent  Parson  Fog,  then  residing  at  Pompthret, 
solisiting  him  to  Come  Down  and  take  the  Charge  of 
sd  Church.  They  farther  Agreed  to  have  A  subscription 
procured  for  the  purpose  of  Raising  thirty  Pounds  pr 
year  for  the  Benefit  of  the  Reverent  Parson  Fog,  should 
he  accept  the  proposals  maid  him," 

The  Parish  Register  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport, 
contains  a  record  of  the  marriage  of  Peggie  Malbone, 
daughter  of  Francis  Malbone,  to  Henry  Edwin  Stan- 
hope, vice-admiral  of  the  blue,  a  grandson  of  the  Mar- 
quis of  Caernarvon,  on  August  17,  1783,  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Fogg.  In  the  absence  of  a  re6lor  of  Trinity  Church, 
Newport,  Miss  Malbone  seleiled  the  reilor  of  its  name- 
sake, Trinity  Church,  Pomfret  (now  Brooklyn),  Con- 
ne6licut,  to  marry  her,  having  doubtless  become  ac- 
quainted with  him  during  her  visits  at  the  seat  of  her 
kinsman.  Colonel  Godfrey  Malbone,  the  patron  of  the 
Pomfret  church.  The  Rev.  Daniel  Fogg  became  rec- 
tor of  the  "Malbone  Church"  in  May,  1772,  one  year 
after  its  foundation,  and  continued  in  service  there  un- 
til his  death,  in  1 8 1 5.  He  was  sober,  quiet,  discreet,  and 
devout,  devoting  himself  diligently  and  faithfully  to  his 
pastoral  duties.  He  enjoyed  at  first  a  stipend  of  £1^0 
a  year  from  the  S.  P.  G.,  his  people  providing  also  a 
like  sum.  During  the  Revolution  his  church  was  closed, 
but  he  continued  steadfastly  at  his  post  of  duty,  hold- 
ing services  in  Colonel  Malbone's  dwelling-house,  min- 
istering to  his  few  faithful  followers  and  condu6ting 
himself  in  such  a  peaceable  manner  as  to  retain  the 
respe£l  and  regard  of  even  those  who  differed  from 
him  as  to  their  duty  to  the  King  of  England.  After  the 
death  of  the  principal  patron  of  Trinity  Church  in  1 785, 


f  .yc}/t^i::^7^^^ttd^ 


Notes  351 

the  Church  was  so  materially  reduced  in  strength  that 
Mr.  Fogg  for  a  time  meditated  surrendering  his  rec- 
torship, but  finally  resumed  his  labours  with  renewed 
assiduity  and  fidelity.  When  the  one  hundredth  anniver- 
sary of  the  establishment  of  the  "Old  Malbone  Church" 
was  celebrated,  on  April  12,  1871,  a  grandson,  in  Or- 
ders, of  the  honoured  re6tor  of  the  Revolutionary  period, 
most  appropriately  delivered  an  interesting  historical  ad- 
dress. (///V/ory  of  Windham  County^  Conne^icut  ^hy  Ellen 
D.  Larned,  ii.  15,  197,  259,  461,  568.) 

In  1785,  the  Rev.  Moses  Badger,  then  officiating 
occasionally  at  Newport  and,  from  1786  to  his  death 
in  1792,  re6lor  of  King's  (now  St.  John's)  Church, 
Providence,  was  elected  or  proposed  for  ele6lion,  to  fill 
the  vacancy  in  St.  Paul's  Church,Narragansett.  A  some- 
what curious  subscription  paper  is  extant, dated  Decem- 
ber, 1785,  and  signed  by  fourteen  of  the  principal  men 
of  the  parish,  to  raise  money  to  prepare  the  parsonage 
house  for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Badger's  reception.  It  is  de- 
clared, however,  that  the  subscriptions  are  to  be  void 
*'if  he  declines  to  exceept  of  the  Gleabe  &c.,  with  the 
alowed  repairs,"  as  he  must  have  done. 

745    ^^T'he  Rev.  William  Smithy 

The  Rev.  William  Smith,  of  Narragansett  and  New- 
port, Rhode  Island,  and  Norwalk,  Conne6licut,  has 
sometimes  been  confounded  with  his  still  more  distin- 
guished uncle  of  Philadelphia,  of  the  same  name,  who 
was  ele6led,  in  1783,  Bishop  of  Maryland  (although 
never  consecrated),  and  was  provost  of  the  College  of 
Philadelphia  (University  of  Pennsylvania)  as  well  as 
chief  participant  in  the  preparation  of  the  "Proposed 
Book."  The  uncle  was,  however,  twenty-seven  years 
the  senior  of  the  nephew,  and  died  in  1803,  eighteen 
years  before  the  other.  As,  at  the  time  of  the  younger 
William  Smith's  arrival  in  America,  in  1785,  he  im- 
mediately assumed  charge  of  Stepney  Parish,  Maryland, 
in  proximity  to  Chestertown,  where  the  elder  had  been 
for  several  years  living,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  he 
emigrated  from  Scotland  under  the  auspices  of  his  uncle. 


352  Notes 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Smith  was  named  Magdalen  Milne. 
One  of  their  sons,  James  Alexander  Seabury,  was  bap- 
tized in  Narragansett,  July  7,  1788,  by  Bishop  Sea- 
bury,  and  died  before  his  father,  in  New  York,  at  about 
the  age  of  thirty  years.  Another  son  sailed  on  the  Boxer^ 
a  privateer  of  the  War  of  18 12,  and  was  never  again 
heard  of  by  his  father.  A  grandson  and  a  great-grand- 
daughter perished  in  the  foundering  of  the  Ar£iic.  The 
book  of  chants  alluded  to  by  Dr.  Beardsley,  published 
about  181 1,  was  entitled  The  Churchman's  Choral  Com- 
panion to  his  Prayer  Book.  The  full  title  of  Dr.  Smith's 
work  on  primitive  psalmody  was  The  Reasonableness  of 
Setting  forth  the  Praises  of  God  according  to  the  Use  of  the 
Primitive  Churchy  with  Historical  Views  of  Metre  Psalm- 
ody (T.  &  J.  Swords,  New  York,  18 14).  The  tradi- 
tion that,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Smith,  the  Venite 
was  chanted,  for  the  first  time  in  America,  in  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Narragansett,  has  been  noted  above. "^  Several 
of  Dr.  Smith's  manuscript  letters,  showing  a  clear  head 
and  high  literary  ability,  are  in  the  colleftion  of  Mr.  D. 
Berkeley  Updike,  of  Boston.  Another  of  the  accom- 
plishments of  this  versatile  genius  was  practical  organ 
building,  in  connexion  with  Peter  Erben,  for  fifty-five 
years  the  organist  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York.  With 
his  own  hands  he  constru6ted  several  small  pipe-organs, 
one  of  which  continued  to  be  used  in  old  Zion  Church, 
New  York,  until  it  was  consumed  by  fire  in  18 15. 

However  broken-hearted  and  discouraged  the  old 
Doctor  in  his  latter  years  came  to  be,  he  always  found 
a  covert  from  the  storm  in  the  house  of  his  comrade  in 
the  fascinating  art,  just  referred  to,  and  it  was  there 
that  he  fell  asleep,  less  old  in  years  than  in  infirmities 
and  griefs.  His  burial,  by  Bishop  Hobart,  took  place  in 
Trinity  church-yard,  near  the  monument  over  the  grave 
of  Alexander  Hamilton,  but  it  is  said  that  no  memorial 
stone  marks  the  resting-place  of  the  author  of  a  whole 
office  in  the  American  Prayer  Book. 

746    "  The  late  Rev,  Dr.  JVheaton."      ' 

Salmon  Wheaton  was  born  in  Litchfield  County,  Con- 


Notes  353 

ne6Hcut,  in  1782,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1805.  For  a  time  he  was  the  assistant  of  the  Rev,  Bela 
Hubbard,re(5lor  of  Trinity  Church,  New  Haven.  When 
Trinity  Church,  Newport,  became  vacant,  after  the  re- 
signation of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dehon,theRt.  Rev.  Dr.  Jarvis, 
Bishop  of  Conne6licut,  recommended  Mr.  Wheaton 
as  a  suitable  person  to  fill  the  vacancy.  He  was  ac- 
cordingly, in  July,  1 8 10,  chosen  reftor  of  that  church. 
In  1 897, the  late  Mr.  James  Swan,  for  more  than  eighty 
years  an  esteemed  and  valued  citizen  of  Newport,  wrote 
for  the  Newport  journal  a  delightful  reminiscent  article 
upon  Dr.  Wheaton,  of  which  the  following  is  a  portion : 
"The  renovation  and  improvements,  progressing  so 
satisfa6lorily  in  historic  Trinity  Church,  bring  vividly 
to  the  memory  of  a  few  of  Dr.  Wheaton's  former  pa- 
rishioners his  saintly  face  and  manly  form.  He  was  for 
just  thirty  years  the  beloved  re6lor  of  this  church,  com- 
ing here,  when  quite  a  young  man,  from  Conne6licut, 
in  a  short  time  marrying  a  sister  of  Bishop  Dehon  and 
immediately  occupying  the  quaint  old  parsonage  on  the 
corner  of  Touro  and  High  streets.  Dr.  Wheaton  was 
universally  respected  throughout  the  town,  and  the  chil- 
dren on  the  highway  would  instinctively  cease,  for  a 
moment,  from  their  games  and  sports,  as,  on  approach- 
ing them,  he  might  have  for  each  a  kindly  word  of  re- 
cognition. During  the  Sunday  service  he  wore  the  con- 
ventional white  surplice,  which  almost  trailed  upon  the 
floor,  but  he  invariably  preached  in  the  academic  gown 
and  always,  in  the  pulpit,  wore  black  silk  gloves.  His 
sermons  were  brief  but  learned  and  pra6lical.  In  18 19 
the  first  Sunday-school  of  this  parish  was  formed,  the 
sessions  of  the  school  being  holden,  for  a  short  period, 
in  the  south  gallery.  There  are  many  persons,  now  living, 
on  whose  brow  Dr.  Wheaton's  hand  poured  the  bap- 
tismal water,  and  others,  who  were  brought  to  Bishop 
Griswold  to  receive  the  rite  of  Confirmation,  prompted 
to  this  a6l  by  the  affe6lionate  and  earnest  words  of  their 
excellent  re6lor.  Who  that  has  ever  been  present  at  a 
burial,  where  he  officiated,  can  forget  the  pathos  and  so- 
lemnity of  his  voice  as  he  uttered  the  committal  words, 


354  Notes 

*  Earth  to  earth,  ashes  to  ashes,  dust  to  dust,'  and,  after 
a  moment's  pause, with  triumphant  cadence,  exclaimed, 
'Blessed  are  the  dead,  who  die  in  the  Lord'?  At  mar- 
riages, which  frequently  occurred  in  private  houses,  he 
would  usually  remain  only  a  few  moments  after  the 
ceremony,  as  soon  as  he  had  offered  his  congratulations 
quietly  withdrawing,  bearing  away  with  him  a  portion 
of  the  bride  cake  always  daintily  wrapped  in  triple  paper 
and  secured  with  narrow  satin  ribbon.  Dr.  Wheaton 
died  in  Johnstown,  New  York,  August  24,  1844,  aged 
sixty-two  years,  and  his  remains,  with  those  of  his  wife, 
repose  in  a  tomb  under  St.  Paul's  Church,  Boston.  On 
the  east  side  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport,  is  a  white 
marble  mural  tablet  to  his  memory,  placed  there  by  his 
former  parishioners.  Dr.  Wheaton's  daughter,  Sarah,  be- 
came the  wife  of  the  late  Dr.  David  King,  of  Newport, 
and  another  daughter.  Miss  Anne,  died  not  long  ago  in 
this  city.  His  son,  Theodore,  a  lawyer,  resided  in  the  far 
West  and,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  known  as  Judge 
Wheaton.  Dr.  Wheaton  seldom  left  home,  except  to  at- 
tend the  diocesan  conventions,  or  those,  meeting  trien- 
nially,of  the  general  Church.  Occasionally, however,  he 
would  exchange  with  the  Rev.  Lemuel  Burge,of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Wickford,  usually  going  and  returning  in  the 
small  sloop  or  packet  plying  between  that  village  and 
Newport.  Of  Dr.  Wheaton  it  may  be  truly  said,  that  he 
never  uttered  a  word  which  he  would  wish  to  recall,  or 
wrote  a  line  that  he  cared  to  efface." 

The  ladies  of  Trinity  Church  presented  their  retiring 
re6tor  with  a  solid  silver  pitcher  of  beautiful  design,  as 
a  parting  gift,  it  being  still  preserved  in  the  family  as  a 
precious  relic.  The  last  four  years  of  the  Do6i:or's  life 
were  spent  as  re6lor  of  St.  John's  Church,  Johnstown, 
Fulton  County,  New  York.  It  is  interesting  to  observe 
that  his  great-grandson,  the  Rev.  Hugh  Birckhead,  has 
recently  (1906),  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  become 
re6lor  of  St.  George's  Church,  New  York. 

747    ^^The  Rev.  Mr.  Beardsky." 

Eben  Edwards  Beardsley,  clergyman  and  author,  was 


Notes  355 

born  in  Stepney,  Connecticut,  in  1808,  and  was  re6tor 
of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Cheshire,  Conne6licut,  principal 
of  the  Cheshire  Episcopal  Academy  and  recSlor  of  St. 
Thomas's  Church, New  Haven.  Mr.  Beardsley  received 
the  degree  of  Do6lor  of  Divinity  from  Trinity  College 
in  1854,  as  well  as  that  of  Do6i:or  of  Laws  from  Co- 
lumbia College,  in  1874.  He  devoted  much  time  to  his- 
torical research,  in  conne6tion  with  the  Church  in  his 
native  State.  Dr.  Beardsley  was  the  author  of  a  History 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Connecticut^  z  Memoir  of  the 
Rev.  fohn  Eaton  Smith, a  Life  of  Samuel  fohnson,  D.D., 
a  Life  of  Samuel  fohnson,  LL.D.,  and  a  Life  of  the  Rt. 
Rev.  Samuel  Seabury,  D.D. 

748  "Dr.  Bowdeny 

John  Bowden,  clergyman  and  author,  was  born  in  Ire- 
land, in  1 75 1,  and  died  in  Ballston  Spa,  New  York,  in 
181 7.  He  was  re6lor  of  the  church  in  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut, and  principal  of  the  Episcopal  Academy,  at 
Cheshire.  In  06lober,  1796,  Mr.  Bowden  was  unani- 
mously elected  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  but  declined  the 
position  on  account  of  the  weak  state  of  his  health.  In 
April,  1802,  he  became  professor  of  moral  philosophy 
at  Columbia  College,  from  which,  in  1797,  he  had  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  S.T.D.  He  wrote,  among  a  con- 
siderable number  of  works.  The  Apostolic  Origin  of  Epis- 
copacy (2  vols..  New  York,  1808). 

749  "^  meeting  of  the  Society  of  St.  PauPs  in  Aprils 
1791." 

On  November  18,  1790,  was  held,  in  Newport,  the 
first  Rhode  Island  Episcopal  diocesan  convention,  at 
which  adhesion  and  obedience  to  the  "seventeen  can- 
ons," adopted  by  the  general  convention  of  1789,  was 
voted;  the  revised  Book  of  Common  Prayer  was  approved 
of  and  recommended  for  use;  and  SamuelSeabury,D.D., 
Bishop  of  the  Church  of  Connecticut,  was  declared 
Bishop  of  the  Church  of  this  State.  It  must  have  been 
soon  after  this,  and  probably  at  about  the  time  indi- 
cated in  the  head  of  this  Note,  that  an  undated  paper, 


356  Notes 

still  extant,  was  drawn  up  and  signed  by  thirty-six  of 
the  men  of  St.  Paul's  Parish,  Narragansett,  as  fol- 
lows: 

"The  situation  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  in  North  Kings- 
ton, in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  at  this  present  time 
being  such  that  it  solicits  the  attention  of  every  mem- 
ber and  connexion  of  the  same;  it  hath,  therefore,  been 
judged  proper  to  request  all  concerned  for  its  future  es- 
tablishment and  confirmation  to  adopt  such  measures 
as  may  be  thought  most  conducive  to  the  general  bene- 
fit of  the  same.  Acknowledging  ourselves  an  Episco- 
pal Church  and  desirous  of  preservingthe  bond  of  Unity 
with  our  Sister  Churches  in  this  State,  we  are  willing 
to  associate  with  them  in  all  things  Christian  and  ca- 
nonical, under  the  direftion  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Sea- 
bury.  And  this  coalition  with  our  Sister  Churches  and 
acknowledgment  of  a  diocesan  we  reckon  the  more 
necessary  because  without  [them]  we  can  neither  ob- 
tain a  Gentleman  in  holy  orders  for  our  clergyman  nor 
claim  the  privilege  of  confirmation  or  right  of  repre- 
sentation at  any  State  or  General  Convention.  We  are 
sensible  how  necessary  it  is  to  have  a  clergyman  among 
us  as  soon  as  possible.  Without  a  regular  and  valid 
ministry,  our  young  people  must  be  brought  up  igno- 
rant of  true  Religion  and  our  Elderly  people  denuded 
of  it."  There  is  some  reason  to  conclude  that  St.  Paul's 
Parish,  at  a  later  date,  maintained  the  theory  that,  in 
putting  itself  thus  under  the  direftion  of  Bishop  Sea- 
bury,  it  had  been  placed  also  under  the  jurisdi61:ion  of 
his  successors  (Note  753).  In  the  annual  convention  of 
the  diocese  of  Rhode  Island,  held  at  Newport,  June  7, 
1809,  it  was  "Voted  and  Resolved,  That  a  Committee 
be  appointed  to  address  the  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  in  North  Kingston,  and  inquire  of  them 
whether  there  exists  any  cause  or  causes  of  their  dis- 
union with  us,  which  this  Convention  can  alleviate  and 
to  assure  the  said  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  the  Interest 
which  the  Convention  feel  for  the  welfare  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  and  of  their  earnest  desire  that  the  said  Church 
should  be  represented  in  our  future  Conventions. Voted, 


Notes  357 

That  the  Clergy  of  the  Churches  in  Newport,  Provi- 
dence and  Bristol,  be  the  Committee  for  the  above  pur- 
pose." 

To  this  committee,  consisting  of  Alexander  V.  Gris- 
wold,  of  Bristol,  T.  Dehon,  and  J.  Ward,  of  Newport, 
Daniel  Updike,  one  of  the  wardens  of  St.  Paul's,  wrote, 
August  3, 1 809,  thirteen  years  after  the  death  of  Bishop 
Seabury,that  "the  Church  has  primarily  been  placed  un- 
der the  jurisdiction  of  the  Bp.  of  Ct.  (Seabury)  and  that 
they  reje£t  the  insinuation  that  they  hold  aloof  from 
their  sister  Churches."  Had  this  position  been  main- 
tained, there  would  have  been  created,  in  ecclesiastical 
matters,  in  the  nineteenth  century,  a  condition  similar 
to  the  political  situation  in  the  seventeenth  century, 
when  Narragansett  declined  to  recognize  the  authority 
of  the  Rhode  Island  Colony  and  submitted  to  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 

It  must  have  been  at  about  the  date  at  the  head  of 
this  Note  that  Silas  Casey,  a  gentleman  of  wealth  and 
position,  grandfather  of  General  Silas  Casey  and  great- 
grandfather of  General  Thomas  Lincoln  Casey,  both 
late  officers  of  the  United  States  Army,  began  to  be 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  He  was 
a  descendant,  in  the  fourth  generation,  of  Thomas  and 
Sarah  Casey,  of  Newport.  Silas  Casey  was  born  in  East 
Greenwich,  Rhode  Island,  June  5,  1734,  and  died  in 
the  same  town,  September  27,  1814.  In  1788,  after  a 
quarter  of  a  century  spent  in  business,  he  retired  to  his 
estate  in  Boston  Neck,  Narragansett,  and  soon  after 
became  a  regular  attendant  at  St.  Paul's  Church.  It  is 
asserted  by  tradition  that,  as  early  as  1 791-2,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  vestry,  although,  on  account  of  the  im- 
perfeCl  condition  of  the  Parish  Records  at  that  period, 
it  is  impossible,  by  reference  to  them,  to  verify  the  state- 
ment. In  the  latter  year  Mr.  Casey  was  one  of  a  com- 
mittee which  obtained  from  the  General  Assembly  a 
grant  for  a  lottery  to  raise  money  for  putting  the  edi- 
fice of  St.  Paul's  Church  into  decent  and  suitable  order. 
(Rhode  Island  Colonial  Records,  x.  471.)  In  a  record 
of  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 


358  Notes 

held  06lober  28,  1792,  the  name  of  Silas  Casey  oc- 
curs. Mr.  Casey  was  an  ardent  patriot  during  the  Re- 
volutionary War,  and  generous  in  all  public  enterprises 
of  his  town  and  se6lion.  He  derived  his  Boston  Neck 
estate  (the  south  half  of  the  Amos  Richeson  allotment) 
through  his  wife,  Abigail,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
(Wanton)  Coggeshall. 

To  this  period  also  may  be  traced  the  introduction 
into  St.  Paul's  Parish  of  the  well-known  Shaw  family, 
which  has  ever  since,  in  its  different  branches,  been  so 
prominent  and  helpful  in  its  affairs.  On  December  27, 
1794,  Dr.  Isaac  Senter,  of  Newport,  recommended 
young  Dr.  William  G.  Shaw,  who  had  been  in  his  of- 
fice, to  Daniel  Updike,  Esq.,  of  Wickford,  as  a  desir- 
able acquisition  for  that  village.  In  an  autograph  letter, 
preserved  in  the  Providence  Public  Library,  as  a  gift,  with 
others,  of  Mr.  Daniel  Berkeley  Updike,  of  Boston,  Dr. 
Senter  remarks  of  Dr.  Shaw,  "  He  is  a  young  man  of 
sense  and  science,  of  great  sobriety  and  integrity  and, 
in  my  opinion,  better  qualified  to  praftise  physic  than 
any  other  young  physician  in  this  state."  Dr.  Shaw 
married  Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Samuel  Brenton, 
of  Wickford,  and  remained  there,  as  a  praftising  phy- 
sician, for  upwards  of  sixty  years.  Among  his  descend- 
ants and  those  closely  conne6led  with  them  by  mar- 
riage have  been  no  less  than  nine  clergymen  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  two  of  them, the  Rev,  Lemuel  Burge 
and  the  Rev.  Daniel  Henshaw,  S.T.D.,  having  been 
re6tors  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  A  son  of  Dr.  Shaw,  Wil- 
liam A.  Shaw,  M.D.,  spent  his  long  and  useful  life  in 
Wickford,  and  was  a  warden  of  the  church  from  1837 
to  1879.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Henshaw,  in  his  memorial  ser- 
mon at  the  Old  Church,  in  August,  1885,  declares  con- 
cerning Mrs.  William  G.  Shaw :  "  She  laboured  diligently 
and  successfully  to  keep  and  educate,  in  the  Church's 
ways,  under  very  adverse  circumstances,  a  large  family 
of  sons  and  daughters.  Every  one  of  her  numerous  de- 
scendants, even  to  the  fourth  generation,  are  baptized 
members  and  nearly  all  of  them  are,  or  were,  before  de- 
parting this  life,  communicants  of  the  Church  and  zeal- 


Notes  359 

ous  workers  in  the  band  of  her  faithful  children.  Mrs. 
Shaw's  son,  Samuel  Brenton,  was  born  during  the  min- 
istry of  Mr.  Warren  and  lived  to  be  more  than  four- 
score years  old.  After  having  served  more  than  sixty 
years,  as  priest  at  the  altar,  he  died,  respe6led  and  be- 
loved by  all  who  knew  him,  leaving,  as  an  heritage  for 
his  children,  an  honoured  record  in  the  Church's  his- 
tory. Of  Dr.  William  A.  Shaw  ...  I  need  not  say  a 
word  to  this  congregation.  His  gentle  disposition,  his  su- 
perior literary  and  professional  attainments,  his  acute 
intelleft,  his  quiet  humour,  his  ungrudging  benevolence 
and  his  remarkable  modesty  and  diffidence  are  well 
known  in  all  this  region." 

750   ^^JValter  C.  Gardiner,'' 

The  name  of  Dr.  Gardiner  is  an  interesting  one,  be- 
cause, in  conne6lion  with  him,  there  occurred  one  of 
the  most  notable  cases  of  ecclesiastical  intrusion  known 
to  have  existed  in  the  American  Church.  This  case  is  of 
the  greater  importance,  in  that  it  led,  in  the  General 
Convention  of  1 795,  to  the  passage  of  a  canon,  which 
has  continued,  under  the  title  "Of  a  Congregation  in 
any  Diocese  uniting  with  any  other  Diocese"  (or  a 
similar  one),  substantially  to  the  present  time.  Walter 
C.  Gardiner  is  believed  to  have  belonged  to  the  well- 
known  Narragansett  family  of  that  name,  being  a  re- 
speiled  physician  and  a  member  of  St.  Paul's  Parish.  At 
a  meeting,  holden  at  the  glebe,  06lober  17,  1790,  for 
the  purpose  of  advising  and  proceeding  towards  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  minister  to  preside  over  St.  Paul's  Church, 
the  Rev.  William  Smith  having  resigned  the  reilorship 
eight  or  nine  months  previously,  it  was  "Voted,  That 
a  letter  be  written  .  .  .  and  directed  to  Dr.  Walter  C. 
Gardiner,  requesting  him  to  proceed,  as  soon  as  may  be, 
for  ordination  and  to  take  charge  of  said  Church."  In  this 
letter,  which  is  recorded  in  the  Narragansett  Register, 
reference  is  made  to  "our  united  good  opinion  of  your 
charadter  and  abilities,  together  with  the  knowledge  of 
your  past  and  continued  deportment  and  application  in 
the  sacred  and  worthy  study  of  Divinity."  On  the  fol- 


360  Notes 

lowing  day  a  letter  was  written,  by  a  committee  of 
St.  Paul's,  also  to  Bishop  Seabury,  informing  him  of  the 
above  fa6t  and  craving  his  approbation  and  assistance. 
No  reply  of  Dr.  Gardiner  to  this  letter  is  recorded,  but 
on  Sunday,  April  17,  1791,  "at  a  meeting  of  the  So- 
ciety of  St.  Paul's  Church,"  it  was  "  Voted,  that  Messrs. 
John  Gardiner  and  Rowland  Browne  be  and  are  hereby 
appointed,  in  behalf  of  said  Society,  to  wait  on  Do6i'' 
Walter  C.  Gardiner  signifying  their  wish  and  appro- 
bation that  he  would,  if  agreeable  to  him,  officiate  as  a 
Lay  Reader  in  St.  Paul's  Church  and  that  they  report 
his  determination  to  the  next  meeting."  No  further  re- 
ference to  Dr.  Gardiner  is  found  in  the  Narragansett 
Register  until  seven  or  eight  years  later.  But  it  is  known 
that,  ignoring  the  authority  of  Bishop  Seabury,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  join  himself  to  the  diocese  of  Massachusetts 
and  procure,  from  the  standing  committee  of  its  con- 
vention, recommendation  for  ordination  to  the  diaco- 
nate,  addressed  to  the  Bishop  of  New  York,  who  pro- 
ceeded to  admit  him. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Hooper,  M.A.,  of  Durham,  Con- 
necticut, has  made  a  very  thorough  investigation  of  this 
case,  embodying  its  results  in  an  able  and  interesting 
monograph,  introduced,  as  Appendix  xv,  into  Volume 
II  of  Dr.  Dix's  History  of  Trinity  Churchy  New  York. 
In  this  Mr.  Hooper  remarks :  "Mr.  Gardiner  had  pri- 
vately obtained  a  testimonial  and  applied  to  the  Stand- 
ing Committee  of  Massachusetts  for  admission  as  a  can- 
didate for  Holy  Orders.  Various  members  of  the  parish 
supported  him  and  desired  to  unite  St.  Paul's  Church 
with  the  Church  in  the  diocese  of  Massachusetts.  Mr. 
Gardiner,  presumably  with  the  assent  and  probably  at 
the  suggestion,  of  the  members  of  the  Committee,  had 
asked  Bishop  Provoost  to  ordain  him.  Had  the  ordina- 
tion taken  place  within  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  it 
would  not  have  seemed  such  an  affront  to  the  Bishop 
in  charge  of  Rhode  Island  and  the  other  ecclesiastical 
authorities  of  that  Diocese"  (p.  331).  "Bishop  Pro- 
voost had  accepted  the  recommendation  by  the  Standing 
Committee  of  Massachusetts  of  Mr.  Walter  C.  Gardi- 


Notes  361 

ncE  for  ordination  to  the  diaconate.  On  invitation  of  the 
clergy  of  Massachusetts,  Mr.  Gardiner,  then  '  reader '  in 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Narragansett,  and  some  members  of 
that  parish,  the  Bishop  of  New  York  visited  the  an- 
cient parish  of  St.  Paul's,  Narragansett,  now  Wickford, 
and  on  June  24, 1792,  made  Mr.  Gardiner  a  deacon" 

(P-  330)- 

The  plan  to  unite  St.  Paul's  Parish,  Narragansett, 

with  the  diocese  of  Massachusetts  was  formally  carried 

out.  There  is  in  existence  a  well  authenticated  record, 

apparently  never  entered  on  the  Parish  Register,  but 

written  upon  a  separate  leaf,  as  follows: 

"At  a  Meeting  of  the  Corporation  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
held  at  the  Glebe  House  belonging  to  said  Church,  on 
the  Twenty-fifth  day  of  February  Anno  Domini  1 793. 
Duly  notified — Present  a  Quorum  to  transact  Business. 
Silvester  Gardner,  Esq.  President  pro.  Tem.  To  this 
Meeting,  were  presented  by  the  Sec'ry  a  letter  from  the 
Standing  Committee  of  the  Prot.  Epis'  Church  in  the 
State  of  Massachusetts,  dire6ted  to  the  Sec'ry  and  ad- 
dressed to  the  Corporation  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Nar- 
raganset,  together  with  an  Ecclesiastical  Constitution 
for  the  Government  of  the  Episcopal  Churches  in  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  and  such  other  Chwches  as  may 
be  admitted  and  accede  to  the  same: — Wherefore, upon 
the  perusal  of  the  Constitution,  above  alluded  to  and 
upon  a  due  consideration  thereof  It  is  Voted  and  Re- 
solved That  the  same  be  and  is  hereby  Adopted  and 
Received  as  an  Ecclesiastical  Constitution  for  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  Epis'  Church  of  St.  Paul's  in  Narragan- 
set.  —  Voted,  That  Peter  Phillips,  Silvester  Gardiner, 
Rowland  Brown,  Samuel  Brenton  and  Frederick  Gardi- 
ner, Esq'%  or  any  three  of  them  be  and  they  are  hereby 
appointed  aCommittee  towriteto  the  Standing  Com'tee 
of  the  Prot.  Epis'  Church  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts, 
informing  them  that  this  Corporation  have  legally  adopted 
and  received  their  Ecclesiastical  Church  Constitution. 

"The  above  is  a  true  Copy  from  the  Records  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Narragansett. 

"  Witness^  Sam.  E.  Gardiner,  Sec'ry  " 


362  Notes 

In  the  journal  of  the  convention  of  Massachusetts, 
held  on  May  28, 1 793, it  is  thus  recorded :  "  Dr.  Walter, 
as  Chairman  of  the  late  Standing  Committee,  laid  be- 
fore the  Convention,  for  their  approbation  or  disappro- 
bation, certain  communications  from  St.  Paul's  Church 
at  Narragansett  to  the  Standing  Committee,  relating  to 
recommending  Dr.  Walter  C.  Gardiner  for  the  minis- 
ter of  said  Church, — which  w^ere  approved  and  the 
papers  ordered  to  lie  upon  the  files;  and  said  Church 
was  "voted  to  be  a  part  of  this  Constitution."  It  is  remark- 
able that  there  is  known  to  exist,  in  Narragansett,  no 
record  or  even  tradition  of  the  ordination  of  Dr.  Gar- 
diner in  St.  Paul's  Church.  Had  it  not  been  for  Mr. 
Hooper's  statement  of  the  date  of  this  ordination, 
founded,  doubtless,  upon  some  trustworthy  evidence, 
the  extract  just  given,  from  the  Massachusetts  journal, 
might  perhaps  seem  to  suggest  that  he  was  not  or- 
dained until  a  later  period,  probably  June,  1793.  In  the 
Rhode  Island  convention,  held  in  Providence,  August 
20  and  21,  1792,  it  was  voted  to  forward,  with  the 
endorsement  of  the  convention,  to  Bishop  Seabury,  a 
paper  signed  by  all  the  male  communicants  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  in  Narragansett,  and  a  very  good  majority  of 
the  original  and  present  proprietors,  thirty-four  all  to- 
gether, as  follows: 

"We  the  subscribers,  the  more  efFe£tually  to  ac- 
complish our  benevolent  intentions  towards  St.  Paul's 
Church,  in  North  Kingstown,  of  which  we  are  mem- 
bers and  friends;  and  the  more  effeitually  to  prevent 
the  unprecedented  intrusion  of  a  Person  in  said  Churchy 
whose  deporttnent^  in  our  opinion.,  disqualifies  him  for  so  sa- 
cred a  funSfion^  Do  appoint  Daniel  Updike  ...  a  Dele- 
gate to  the  Convention  of  the  Church.  .  .  with  full  and 
plenary  power  to  acknowledge  Bishop  Seabury  for  our 
Diocesan  and  to  homologate  the  proceedings  of  all  for- 
mer general  Conventions,  to  accede  to  those  of  the  State 
Conventions,  of  which  we  hereby  declare  ourselves 
members  ;  to  profess  our  adoption  of  the  revised  Prayer 
Book,  and  to  aft  and  do  to  the  best  of  his  judgement  in 
Unity  with  our  Sister  Churches  for  their  and  our  gene- 


I 


Notes  363 

ral  and  particular  good;  and  further  that  he  communi- 
cate these  our  Sentiments  and  intentions  to  the  Stand- 
ing Committee  of  the  Church  in  this  State  to  be  by 
them  transmitted  to  the  Bishop  for  the  accompHshment 
of  the  end  in  view." 

It  is  noticeable  that  only  two  of  the  thirty-four  names 
appended  to  this  paper  are  the  same  as  those  of  the  nine 
present  at  the  meeting  of  the  corporation,  April  17, 
1 791,  where  Dr.  Gardiner  was  requested  to  aS:  as  lay 
reader,  there  being  a  breach  at  that  period  between  the 
communicants  of  the  church  and  the  corporate  mem- 
bers. In  a  record  upon  a  loose  leaf,  never  apparently 
entered  in  the  Parish  Register,  it  is  stated  that,  at  a 
meeting  of  St.  Paul's  Church  on  October  28,  1792,  it 
was  unanimously  voted  that  a  letter  be  signed  and  pre- 
sented to  Dr.  W.  C.  Gardiner  to  the  effeil  that  it  is 
the  desire  of  this  congregation  "that  he  proceed  to  the 
Standing  [Committee  of  the  (?)]  Epis'  State  Conven- 
tion to  be  examined  and  equipped  with  suitable  testi- 
monials for  Ordination,  together  with  a  certificate  to 
said  Standing  Com.  &c."  This  date  also  suggests  that 
Dr.  Gardiner  could  not  have  been  ordained  in  the  pre- 
ceding June. 

In  the  Rhode  Island  convention  of  1793,  at  the 
session  of  August  ist,  under  the  presidency  of  Bishop 
Seabury,  a  report  was  adopted,  partly  as  follows: 

"We  the  Committee  appointed  to  receive  and  ex- 
amine the  papers  relative  to  the  unhappy  separation  of 
Dr.  Gardiner  and  the  Corporate  Body  for  the  Church 
in  Narragansett  from  the  Sister  Churches,  in  this  State, 
—  Do,  after  a  Candid  Examination  and  Mature  deli- 
beration, Report  as  follows  :.  .  .Secondly. — Thataslong 
as  the  Ch'h  of  Narragansett  refuse  to  unite  with  the 
Ch'h's  of  this  State  and  Recognize  their  Conventional 
Doings,  no  Clergyman  or  person  professing  Communion 
with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  could,  consist- 
ently with  the  Dignity .^  Union  and  Peace  of  those  Ch'hs, 
recommend  Dr.  W.  C.  Gardiner  for  Holy  Orders  and, 
therefore,  we  conceive  the  Proceedings  of  the  Stand- 
ing Com'tee  of  Massachusetts  were  inconsistent  with 


364  Notes 

every  principle  of  Epis'l  Government  and  have  an  evi- 
dent tendency  to  produce  Disorder  and  promote  Schism, 
and  that  the  Promotion  of  Dr.  Gardiner,  by  Bishop 
Provost  [sic'] ,  was  dire£lly  contrary  to  the  Constitution 
and  Canons  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church." 

It  does  not  appear  that  Dr.  Gardiner  ever  entered  into 
union  with  the  Rhode  Island  convention,  the  Church 
in  Narragansett  continuing  unrepresented  in  it  from 
1793  ^^  1806.  The  corporation  of  St.  Paul's,  how- 
ever, in  the  mean  time,  purged  itself  of  the  charge  of 
schism  by  the  following  action: 

"At  a  meeting  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Narragansett, 
holden  at  the  Glebe  in  South  Kingston,  on  the  third  day 
of  December,  1798,  Voted,  That,  whereas  certain  il- 
legal proceedings  were  heretofore  had  and  entered  into 
by  Walter  C.Gardiner  for  his  own  benefit  and  accommo- 
dation with  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Massachusetts,  to 
facilitate  the  purposes  of  his  ordination  and  to  answer 
other  sinister  designs,  he  not  having  the  well-being  of 
this  Church  in  view,  but  aftuated  by  motives  repug- 
nant thereto, — This  meeting  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  le- 
gally assembled,  do  Vote  and  resolve  that  all  the  said 
proceedings  of  Walter  C.  Gardiner  and  others  of  said 
society  inveigled  by  him  as  aforesaid,  respecSting  said 
Church  in  Massachusetts,  and  all  other  his  nefarious 
transaftions,  consequent  thereon,  are  null  and  void  and 
of  no  efFe6t  and  are  hereby  direfted  to  be  marked  as 
such,  in  the  margin  of  the  records  of  this  Church, — 
and  that  the  officers  of  said  Church,  not  being  hitherto 
organized,  have  prevented  the  above  nullifying  vote 
from  being  previously  passed  it  [jzV] ." 

Bishop  White,  in  his  Memoirs  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  (Philadelphia,  1820,  p.  216),  in  noticing 
the  General  Convention  of  1795,  remarks  concerning 
the  case  of  Walter  C.  Gardiner:  "Before  the  assem- 
bling of  this  Convention,  there  took  place  an  incident, 
threatening  to  produce  permanent  dissatisfa6tion  be- 
tween Bishops  Seabury  and  Provoost;  which,  however, 
was  happily  prevented.  Although  Bishop  Seabury  had 
been  chosen  bishop  of  the  Church  in  Rhode  Island,  the 


I 


Notes  365 

congregation  of  Narragansett,  in  that  State,  had  asso- 
ciated with  the  Church  in  Massachusetts ;  which  had  un- 
warily admitted  the  jun6tion.  In  consequence,  a  clergy- 
man had  been  ordained  for  the  congregation  by  Bishop 
Provoost.  The  author,  during  the  sitting  of  the  Con- 
vention, received  a  letter  from  Bishop  Seabury,  respedt- 
fully  and  affe6lionately  complaining  of  the  matter.  Bi- 
shop Provoost,  on  the  letter's  being  read  to  him,  said 
that,  on  receiving  the  letter  from  the  clergy  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, he  had  doubted  of  the  propriety  of  the  pro- 
posal in  it;  but  that,  on  consulting  the  clergy  of  New 
York,  and  especially  those  in  the  most  intimacy  with 
Bishop  Seabury,  he  was  advised  by  them  to  compliance; 
but  that  he  perceived  obje6tions  to  such  conduit  in 
individual  congregations  and  would  much  approve  of 
a  canon  to  prevent  it.  Such  a  canon  was  accordingly 
prepared  and  passed.  It  is  believed  that  no  dissatisfac- 
tion remained." 

This  Canon  8  of  1795  now  (1907)  appears,  in  sub- 
stance, in  Canon  50,  Sedlion  I.  Dr.  Hawks  also.  In  his 
Commentary  on  the  Constitution  and  Canons^  p.  130,  re- 
marks concerning  this  incident:  "The  origin  of  the 
Canon  of  1795  was  the  union  which  took  place  of  a 
Church  in  Narragansett,  Rhode  Island,  with  the  Dio- 
cese of  Massachusetts.  A  convention  of  clergy  and  de- 
legates of  various  churches  in  Rhode  Island  had  de- 
clared that  Bishop  Seabury  should  be  the  bishop  of  the 
Church  in  that  State.  The  Standing  Committee  of 
Massachusetts  applied  to  Bishop  Provoost  of  New 
York,  who  ordained  a  clergyman  for  the  Narragansett 
Church." 

Mr.  Hooper  {ut  supra^  p.  333)  gives  the  later  his- 
tory of  Dr.  Gardiner,  as  follows:  "The  career  of  the 
priest,  who  commenced  his  ministry  at  Narragansett, 
was  a  turbulent  and  unhappy  one.  His  parishioners  at 
Narragansett  soon  became  dissatisfied  with  him  and 
he  removed  to  Hudson,  New  York.  His  career  there 
was  very  harmful  to  the  parish.  The  same  experience 
befell  him  at  Stamford  (now  Hobart),  Delaware  County, 
New  York.  Bishop  Claggett,  of  Maryland,  thus  men- 


366  Notes 

tions  him :  '  I  regret  that  I  am  obliged  to  say  that  the 
Rev''  Mr.  Gardiner  since  my  acquaintance  with  him, 
six  or  seven  years  ago,  has  resided  in  five  different  states 
and  he  has  scarcely,  I  believe,  left  one  of  these  states, 
u^ithout  convulsing  the  Church  in  it  by  some  public 
dispute  with  his  brethren.'  Mr.  Gardiner  ended  his 
ministry,  in  Virginia,  about  1810." 

One  of  the  sources  of  alienation  between  Dr.  Gar- 
diner and  the  communicants  of  St.  Paul's  was  a  char- 
ter, granted  by  the  Assembly  in  06lober,  1791,  and 
advocated,  apparently,  by  him,  but  not  at  all  adapted  to 
Episcopal  churches.  A  new  a6l  of  incorporation  was 
passed  in  March,  1794, tending  to  the  harmonizing  of 
the  parish.  This  charter  is  now  suspended  upon  the 
front  of  the  pulpit,  in  the  Old  Church,  where  it  was 
placed  by  Mr.  Daniel  Berkeley  Updike,  in  whose  pos- 
session it  was  for  many  years. 

751    ^^T^he  Rev.  Joseph  Warren." 

The  first  record  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Warren  now  ac- 
cessible is  of  the  year  1791,  when  he  was  proposed 
as  a  candidate  for  the  re6torship  of  St.  Ann's  Church, 
Gardiner,  Maine,  and  "the  town  voted  not  to  hear 
him."(Batchelder's  History  of  the  Eastern  Diocese^  i.  79.) 
The  origin  of  Mr.  Warren  has  not  been  ascertained, 
but  his  name  seems  to  suggest  a  relationship  with  the 
well-known  family  of  Warrens  in  Roxbury,  there  be- 
ing known  to  be  in  that  three  Josephs  in  dire6t  suc- 
cession, in  the  eighteenth  century.  Notwithstanding  the 
inhospitable  reception  of  Mr.  Warren's  name,  noted 
above,  there  is  found,  in  one  of  the  parish  books  of 
Christ  Church,  Gardiner,  signed  by  Barzillai  Gannett, 
clerk,  a  record  to  the  eff'eil  that  "  The  Rev"*  Joseph 
Warren  commenced  preaching  in  St.  Ann's  Church, 
in  Pittston  [now  Gardiner] ,  about  the  first  of  Septem- 
ber, 179 1, and  dissolved  his  connection  with  said  Church 
on  the  lo'*"  July,  1796."  {History  of  Christ  Church., 
Gardiner^  Maine.,  by  Evelyn  L.  Gilmore,  p.  64.)  In  the 
summer  of  1  793,  a  fanatical  maniac  burned  the  church 
at  Gardiner  and  made  several  attempts,  in  accordance 


Notes  367 

with  a  fancied  divine  command,  to  take  the  life  of  Mr. 
Warren.  After  this  tragic  interruption  his  services  seem 
to  have  been  for  some  time  suspended,  but  in  April, 
1794,  he  was  definitely  invited  "to  settle  as  minister 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Pittston."  The  author  of  the 
above  History  of  Christ  Church  (p.  71)  thus  chronicles: 
"The  Rev.  Mr.  Warren  left  Pittston  on  the  20'*' of  July, 
1 796,  having  accepted  a  call  to  Charleston,  S.  C."  Mr. 
Batchelder,  however  («/  supra,  p.  67),  records:  "The 
Rev.  Joseph  Warren  of  Gardiner  occasionally  officiated 
in  St.  Paul's  Church  [Portland]  and  administered  the 
Sacraments.  Having  left  Gardiner  in  1796,  he  became 
the  minister  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  He  continued  here, 
working  very  efficiently,  till  1799.  He  then  went  south." 
OnMonday,April28,i794,atameetingofthecongrega- 
tion  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Narragansett,  it  was  "voted  that 
Mr.  Lodowick  Updike  be  requested  to  write  to  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Warren,  requesting  him  to  make  a  visit  to  this 
congregation."  This  invitation  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  accepted,  but,  at  a  meeting  of  the  parish,  held  on 
December  i,  1798,  it  was  "voted  (the  Rev.  Joseph 
Warren  being  present,)  that  he  is  requested  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Incorporated  Society  of  St.  Paul's  Chh.,  in 
North  Kingston,  to  officiate  as  minister  thereof,  and 
he,  having  accepted  the  same,  it  is  hereby  voted  and 
resolved  that  he  is  the  minister  of  said  Church  and  is 
hereby  considered  as  such."  The  record  of  this  meet- 
ing is  signed  by  Mr.  Warren,  as  redtor,  as  are  also 
several  successive  ones,  until  December,  1799,  after 
which  there  appears  to  have  been  a  suspension  of  his 
labours.  In  any  case,  "at  a  meeting  of  the  Minister, 
Wardens  and  Vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  held  July 
12,1803,. . .  It  wasVoted,  That  the  Rev.  Joseph  War- 
ren again  resume  the  Re6torship  of  St.  Paul's  Church 
and  that  he  officiate  on  Sundays,  alternately,  at  North 
Kingstown,  in  the  Church,  and  in  South  Kingstown, 
in  the  Glebe  House,  unless  necessarily  prevented  in  the 
line  of  his  duty."  Mr.  Warren's  compensation,  as  fixed 
at  the  same  meeting,  was  the  rents  of  the  glebe  land 
and  one  hundred  dollars,  to  be  paid  him  by  the  two  Con- 


368  Notes 

gregations.  The  last  mention  of  this  re6lor,  in  the  re- 
cords, is  in  that  of  the  Easter  meeting,  April  15, 1805, 
when  the  use  of  the  glebe  estate  and  the  Case  estate 
was  secured  to  him  for  another  year  and  "  during  his 
officiation  as  Re61:or  of  St.  Paul's  Church,"  and  he  was 
empowered  to  choose  a  sexton,  with  "an  allowance  of 
Four  Dollars  out  of  the  pew  rents,"  The  circumstances 
of  Mr.  Warren's  departure  from  the  parish  are  not  now 
known,  but  in  a  letter  of  chara6leristic  mildness,  writ- 
ten by  Bishop  Griswold  to  Daniel  Updike,  Esq.,  April 
4,  1806,  he  alludes  to  his  "pain  for  the  many  discour- 
agements, which,  it  seems,  your  parish  has  experienced, 
especially  in  its  late  connexion  with  Mr.  Warren." 
He  appears  to  have  taken  up  his  residence  within  the 
diocese  of  New  York,  whither  he  carried  the  records 
of  the  Church;  the  wardens  of  St.  Paul's,  in  a  very  per- 
emptory demand  for  their  return,  in  January,  1806, 
threatening  "  to  acquaint  the  Bishop  of  New  York  there- 
with and  request  his  assistance  in  procuring  them." 
Several  allusions  are  made  in  contemporary  documents 
to  Mr.  Warren's  books,  as  if  they  were  somewhat  nu- 
merous, suggesting  his  scholarly  habits.  There  is  a  cu- 
rious reminder,  in  one  of  the  record  books  preserved 
by  St.  Paul's  Church,  of  his  previous  identification  with 
the  Church  in  Maine,  it  having  been  first  used  appa- 
rently during  his  residence  in  that  District  for  memo- 
randa of  its  various  missions,and  then  appropriated  to 
Narragansett  matters. 

752  "T'/zf  church  edifice  was  removed  to  Wickfordy 
Where  St.  Paul's  Church  was  built,  in  1707,  the  site 
chosen  was  judged  to  be  near  the  centre  of  the  ex- 
pe61:ed  congregation,  easy  of  access  from  all  dire£lions, 
and  likely  to  be  surrounded  by  an  increasing  population. 
It  was  closely  adjacent  to  the  great  north  and  south  road, 
originally  called  the  "  Pequot  Path,"  but  then  known  as 
the  "Country  Road"  and  since  as  the  "Post  Road," 
leading  from  Connecticut,  and  the  towns  of  Westerly 
and  South  Kingstown,  on  the  one  hand,  to  East  Green- 
wich, Warwick,  and  Providence,  on  the  other.  But  what 


Notes  369 

perhaps  still  more  strongly  suggested  the  eligibility  of 
the  location  was  its  position  upon  a  much  newer,at  least 
projeSied^  highway,  running  westerly  from  Narragansett 
Bay,  at  a  point  at  the  foot  of  "  Barber's  Heights  "(a  mile 
north  of  the  present  Saunderstown),  over  Boston  Neck, 
by  the  future  birthplace  of  Gilbert  Stuart  at  the  head  of 
Narrow  River,  over  Hammond  Hill,  and  so,  somewhat 
indefinitely,  towards  the  setting  sun.  This  was  also  the 
period  of  the  establishment  of  regular  ferries  between 
the  islands  of  Rhode  Island  and  Jamestown  (or  Conani- 
cut)  and  the  Narragansett  country,  no  less  than  four 
such  ferries  being  "settled"  by  the  General  Assembly 
at  the  August  session  of  1709.  When  the  church  was 
eredled,  what  used  to  be  known  as  the  "North  Ferry" 
must  have  been  in  contemplation,  or  probably  already 
in  operation  in  a/)rzW/^  way,  conne6ting  Coddington's 
Cove  (some  two  miles  north  of  the  centre  of  Newport) 
with  Jamestown  and  that  part  of  Kingstown,  about  the 
eastern  terminus  of  the  road  already  alluded  to.  The 
now  long-disused  line  of  due  eastward  and  westward 
grassy  roadway  across  Conanicut,  uniting  the  two  sec- 
tions of  this  ferry,  can  still  be  seen,  on  looking  down 
from  "Barber's  Heights,"  opposite  the  narrowest  por- 
tion of  the  "West  Passage"  of  Narragansett  Bay. 

The  projectors  of  the  "North  Ferry"  are  said,  by 
tradition,  to  have  expe6led  by  means  of  this  more  di- 
rect route  to  divert  the  travel  between  Boston  and  Con- 
necticut as  well  as  New  York,  away  from  what  is  still 
known  as  the  "South  Ferry,"  although  its  significance 
as  a  distinctive  title  ceased  through  the  suspension  of 
its  rival,  much  more  than  a  century  ago.  It  would  thus 
seem  that  the  builders  of  the  old  Narragansett  Church 
must  have  had  visions  of  streams  of  travellers  passing 
to  and  fro  by  the  sacred  struCture,  and  of  numbers  of 
new  settlers  induced  to  make  their  home  upon  so  popu- 
lar a  thoroughfare.  But  this  dream  was  destined  to  dis- 
appointment. The  families  of  the  planters,  as  was  anti- 
cipated, gathered  at  the  welcome  services,  mostly  com- 
ing from  a  considerable  distance, — the  Updikes,  the 
Phillipses,  and  the  Sweets  from  the  north,  the  Cases, 


370  Notes 

the  Helmes,  and  Mr.  Balfour  from  Tower  Hill  and  its 
vicinity,  and  the  Coles,  the  Willetts,  the  Browns,  and 
the  Gardiners  from  Boston  Neck.  No  considerable  ad- 
dition, however,  was  made  to  the  neighbouring  popula- 
tion. As  the  eighteenth  century  wore  away,  flourishing 
communities  were  built  up,  five  miles  to  the  north,  at 
Wickford,  and  to  some  extent,  at  the  same  distance  to 
the  south,  on  Tower  Hill  and  at  its  southern  foot.  When 
the  energetic  Churchmen  of  the  days  of  Dr.  MacSpar- 
ran  and  Parson  Fayerweather,  before  the  War  of  the 
Revolution,  had  passed  away,  few  were  found  to  take 
their  places,  and  it  became  a  struggle,  with  the  former 
stipends  of  the  Venerable  Society  of  course  now  en- 
tirely cut  ofF,  to  raise  a  sufficient  remuneration  for  a 
resident  clergyman.  Long  was  the  problem  turned  over 
in  its  different  lights,  and  stronger  did  the  conviction 
grow  that  the  Church  must  be  removed  to  a  more  fa- 
vourable locality,  although  whither  and  how  must  na- 
turally have  been  viewed  in  varying  ways  by  varying 
interests.  But  at  length,  in  the  last  month  of  the  last 
year  of  the  century,  which,  almost  at  its  beginning,  had 
seen  the  Narragansett  Church  built,  the  die  was  cast. 
On  December  3,  1799,  at  i  p.m.,  twelve  men  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  met  and  "zV  was  Voted^  that  said  Church 
of  St.  Paul's  be  removed  to  the  Village  of  Wickford 
from  the  place  where  it  now  stands,  and  that  the  said 
people  and  members  of  the  Church  in  North  Kingstown 
be  empowered  to  remove  said  building  accordingly." 
Nine  of  those  present  voted  j'^<7,  viz.,  the  venerable  Lodo- 
wick  Updike,  Esq.,  of  Wickford,  then  in  his  seventy- 
fifth  year;  Daniel  Updike,  Esq.,  his  eldest  son;  Colonel 
James  Updike,  his  second  son;  Lodowick  Updike,  his 
third  son;  Richard  Updike,  his  cousin;  Peter  PhiUips, 
Esq.,  of  Wickford;  Sylvester  Gardiner,  Esq.;  Captain 
Thomas  Cole;  and  James  Cooper. Two  voted  nay^  viz.. 
Honourable  George  Brown  and  Jeremiah  Brown,  both 
of  South  Kingstown,  who  were  to  be  left,  at  least  tem- 
porarily, without  a  church  building  in  their  vicinity.  One 
of  them,  Martin  Reed,  who  lived  in  the  house  upon  the 
church  lot,  declined  to  vote.  A  succeeding  vote,  "That 


Notes  371 

a  church  be  built  on  the  Lot  given  by  the  late  Dr.  Mac- 
Sparran,  in  South  Kingstown  [on  the  northwest  corner 
of  his  farm]  ,  provided  it  be  done  without  any  expense  to 
St.  Paul's  Church,  North  Kingston,"  must  have  con- 
veyed to  the  hearts  of  the  parishioners  at  Tower  Hill  and 
on  lower  Boston  Neck  but  a  very  moderate  satisfa6tion, 
whatever  consolation  they  may  have  extracted  from  a 
further  vote, "That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Church,  that 
the  Re6lor  of  said  Church  officiate  in  North  Kings- 
town, at  the  Village  called  Wickford,  and  in  South 
Kingstown,  <7/^^r«^/^/^,  till  a  Bishop  shall  reside  in  South 
Kingstown,  or  till  some  other  provision  be  made  in 
respect  to  preaching, .  . .  provided  that  South  Kings- 
town pay  the  one  half  of  all  subscriptions  which  may 
be  raised  for  the  support  of  a  Minister."  Thus  the  long- 
discussed  question  was  settled  in  a  dire6l  and  business- 
like manner.  No  doubt  there  were  others  beside  the 
two  Browns  who  were  unreconciled  to  the  removal, 
but  if  so  they  deliberately  decided  to  absent  themselves 
from  the  meeting,  regularly  convened  to  consider  the 
matter,  after  repeated  adjournments  in  order  to  secure 
a  fuller  attendance. 

Much  has  been  written,  in  the  nature  of  romance, 
concerning  the  alleged  high-handed  and  secret  manner 
in  which  the  movement  was  carried  on.  It  used  to  be 
declared  that  even  supernatural  agencies  were  engaged 
in  frustrating  the  profanation  of  the  ancient  san6luary, 
tempest  after  tempest  arising  and  driving  away  the  work- 
men, whenever  they  began  the  task  of  taking  down  the 
stru^^ure.  It  is  a  common  tale  that  the  building  was 
finally  removed  bodily,  in  a  single  night,  over  narrow 
and  winding  country  roads,  for  the  whole  distance  of 
five  miles,  in  order  to  elude  the  outraged  parishioners. 
But  the  records  and  sober  tradition  negative  the  fable. 
There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  sometime  during 
the  year  1800,  in  a  perfe6lly  legitimate  and  workman- 
like, not  to  say  even  commonplace,  manner,  the  hon- 
oured edifice  was  taken  apart,  at  what  has  come  to  be 
called  since  the  "old  platform,"  where  now  stands  the 
MacSparran  monument,  and  set  up  again  at  Wickford. 


372  Notes 

The  lot  upon  which  it  was  placed  had  been  originally 
given  for  such  a  purpose  by  Captain  Lodowick  Updike, 
the  grandfather  of  the  venerable  Lodowick  Updike,  Esq., 
who  at  length  was  instrumental  in  thus  occupying  the 
site,  in  accordance  with  the  spirit  of  his  ancestor's  in- 
tention, as  expressed  in  his  will,  made  August  1 6, 1 734. 
In  fa6t,  the  language  of  this  instrument  shows  that  the 
purpose  of  building  a  church  had  dwelt  for  a  long  period 
previously  in  the  mind  of  this  first  Updike  to  be  pro- 
prietor of  Cocumscussuc.  Probably  from  his  earliest  en- 
trance upon  possession  of  the  estate,  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  he  had  entertained  the  design,  thus  proving  his 
original  attachment  to  the  English  Church.  The  clause 
is  as  follows :  "  But  it  is  my  mind  and  will  that  the  lot 
of  Land  in  the  Town  of  Wickford,  by  xwq  formerly  de- 
signed for  the  Church  of  England,  in  North  Kingstown, 
be  excluded  from  the  former  Devise  and  be  forever  ap- 
propriated for  the  use  of  said  Church." 

Two  of  the  elements  which  were,  at  that  period,  en- 
hancing the  importance  of  Wickford  and  enlarging  its 
eligibility  as  the  new  site  of  the  Narragansett  Church, 
were  the  laying  out  of  the  land  between  the  two  coves 
into  house-lots,  by  Mr.  Samuel  Elam,  and  the  estab- 
lishment upon  it,  in  1 800,  of  Washington  Academy.  At 
first  the  little  congregation  of  St,  Paul's  appears  to  have 
exhausted  its  resources  by  the  effx)rt  of  removal,  and  to 
have  had  nothing  left  with  which  to  finish  and  furnish 
theinterior  of  the  church.  It  contained  neither  pulpit  nor 
pews,  the  congregation  being  seated  upon  temporary 
benches,  formed  by  long  boards  placed  upon  sections  of 
logs.  The  existence  of  the  new  academy  at  Wickford, 
with  its  seventy  students,  having  no  other  place  of  pub- 
lic worship  to  attend,  was  made  the  ground  of  an  appeal 
to  Christians  of  all  denominations  in  the  State  for  funds 
with  which  to  complete  the  church.  There  is  in  exist- 
ence a  subscription  paper,  with  the  original  autograph 
signatures  of  generous  contributors  to  this  obje6l,  such 
as  John  Innes  Clark,  Ann  Allen,  D.  Vinton,  George 
Benson,  Thos.  L.  Halsey,  and  Jabez  Bowen,  of  Provi- 
dence, and  George  Gibbs,  Chris.  Champlin,  Benjamin 


Notes  373 

Gardiner,  Stephen  DeBlois,  Francis  Brinley,  and  J.  B. 
Gilpin,  of  Newport.  Soon  afterwards  square  pews  were 
placed  around  the  church  and  ten  long  "slips"  in  the 
centre.  Later  still  (in  i8i  i,  it  is  said),  a  tower  and  bel- 
fry were  built  at  the  west  end  of  the  church. 

Time  has  proved  the  wisdom  of  the  removal  of  the 
church.  Solitude  reigns  unbroken  at  the  ancient  site. 
Many  of  the  old  houses  in  the  neighbourhood  have  gone 
to  decay,  and  seldom  has  a  new  one  been  erefted  during 
the  century  which  has  elapsed  since  the  change,  while 
Wickford  and  Lafayette  on  the  north  and  Wakefield 
and  Narragansett  Pier  on  the  south  have  vindicated  their 
claims  to  the  need  of  churches. 

753    "Mr.  Isaac  B.  Peirce^  of  Newport.'' 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  and  congregation  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  held  October  29,  1809,  it  was  "Voted 
that  Mr.  Isaac  B.  Pearce  be  requested  to  apply  to  the 
bishop  of  Conne6licut  for  the  attainment  of  Deacon's 
orders,  and  that  he  procure,  with  the  assistance  from  the 
Vestry  and  Wardens,  fresh  recommendations,  in  be- 
half of  this  Congregation,  as  may  be  thought  necessary 
to  effe6t  y'^  desirable  purpose  and  that  the  expense  in- 
curred by  the  above  application  will  be  paid  by  the  Con- 
gregation." It  is  not  known  whether  or  not  the  course 
here  requested  was  followed,  but  it  seems  certain  that 
Mr.  Peirce  was  never  ordained,  although,  as  stated  in 
the  text,  he  continued  for  four  years  to  serve  the  par- 
ish as  a  lay  reader.  In  the  year  after  the  beginning  of 
his  work  at  Wickford,  he  appears,  through  some  indis- 
cretion in  connection  with  politics,  to  have  greatly  dis- 
turbed the  parish.  A  letter  dated  at  Middletown,  Rhode 
Island,  in  18 10,  is  extant,  in  which  the  worthy  Ben- 
jamin Gardiner  gives  the  following  judicious  and  kindly 
advice  to  his  nephew,  Daniel  Updike,  then  one  of  the 
wardens  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  who  seems  to  have  con- 
sulted him  concerning  the  imbroglio :  "  I  agree  with  you 
in  Mr.  Pearce's  imprudent  conduct,  which  has  led  to 
so  much  inquietude.  But,  at  the  same  time,  if  we  rightly 
consider  it,  he  has  not  been  guilty  of  the  breach  of 


374  Notes 

any  law  either  civil  or  ecclesiastical.  His  procedure  was 
precipitate  and  unguarded  and,  I  think,  resulted  more 
from  an  error  of  the  Head  than  from  any  corruption 
of  his  Heart,  and,  as  he  appears  to  discover  his  error 
and  is  heartily  sorry  for  his  misdoing,  I  think  it  will  be 
best  for  the  Congregation  to  forgive  and  overlook  this 
his  first  offence  and,  perhaps,  his  future  condu6t  may 
be  more  circumspe£l  and,  thereby,  atone  for  his  past 
Folly.  Great  allowances  ought  to  be  made  for  his  Youth 
and  inexperience  in  Life  and,  as  he  has  heretofore  other- 
ways  condu6led  well  and  manifested  a  Pious  deport- 
ment and  Zeal  for  the  Episcopal  Church,  would  it  be 
just  and  Charitable  for  the  Congregation  to  discard  him 
for  one  misstep?"  Two  months  later,  in  June,  1810, 
Mr.  Updike,  in  a  letter  upon  the  same  subje6l  addressed 
to  the  Rev.  John  Ward,  of  Newport,  remarks:  "We 
now  declare  that  Mr.  Pearce's  conduct  has  been  per- 
fectly correft  and  that  there  is  not  a  person  in  Wick- 
ford,  that  does  or  has  attended  Church,  that  is  opposed 
to  Mr.  Pearce's  officiation  except  [mentioning  three] .  ^ 
We  believe  that  Mr.  Pearce  has  not,  in  any  manner,  sug-  '^ 
gested  a  political  idea,  since  his  embarrassment,  to  any 
Party,  but  abstains  from  associating  with  almost  anyone 
and  lives  in  the  most  retired  manner,  to  avoid  giving  of- 
fence. Nearly  all  the  Inhabitants  are  enthusiastic  in  his 
favour  and  reprehend  the  ill-treatment  he  receives, in  the 
manner  itmerits."  The  Rev.  Dr.  Henshaw,  who  assumed 
the  re6lorship  of  St.  Paul's  only  thirty-six  years  after  Mr. 
Peirce's  departure,  when  many  were  living  who  had 
been  perfe6tly  familiar  with  his  career,  records,  in  his 
Historical  Sermon,  preached  at  the  Old  Church,  Wick- 
ford,  in  August,  1885:  "This  lay  reader  remained  un- 
til 1 8 1 3  and  departed  from  the  faith. ^^  This  statement 
is  somewhat  explained  by  an  unsigned  letter  of  commen- 
dation, probably  a  first  draft,  yet  in  existence,  addressed, 
under  date  of  November  12,  1813,  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Freeman,  minister  of  King's  Chapel,  Boston,  after  it 
had  gone  over  to  Unitarianism.  The  writers  say :  "The 
long  acquaintance  we  have  had  with  Mr.  I.  B.  Pearce, 
and  the  many  services  he  has  rendered  the  Congrega- 


Notes  375 

tion  of  St.  Paul's  Church  by  his  ofEciation  therein  for 
several  years  past,  enable  us,  with  much  pleasure,  to 
say.  That  his  whole  deportment  has  been  most  exem- 
plary, Devout  and  Pious  and  that  we  feel  much  Satis- 
failion  in  making  this  Communication  in  his  favour, 
solicitous  that  his  many  Virtues,  unwearied  Industry, 
Candour  and  Talents  may  enable  him  to  obtain  those 
acquirements,  his  merits  and  usefulness  preeminently 
deserve." 

It  was  at  about  the  beginning  of  Mr.  Pelrce's  en- 
gagement at  Narragansett  that,  on  August  23,  1809, 
an  adjourned  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Rhode  Is- 
land was  held  at  Saint  Paul's  Church.  It  had  been  seve- 
ral years  since  that  church  had  been  represented  in 
the  convention,  and  at  an  earlier  session,  held  at  New- 
port on  June  seventh  of  that  same  year,  the  acElion  in 
respedl:  to  this  omission  already  noted  in  Note  749 
had  been  taken,  and  a  decision  reached  that  the  con- 
vention should  be  again  called  together  to  listen  to 
the  report  of  the  committee  appointed  to  address  the 
wardens  and  vestry  of  the  church  at  Wickford  upon 
the  above  subjeft,  to  inform  them  of  the  communica- 
tion received  from  the  Convention  in  Massachusetts 
concerning  the  ele6tion  of  a  bishop  to  preside  over 
Massachusetts,  New  Hampshire,  and  Rhode  Island,  and 
to  ascertain  further  the  views  and  intentions  of  the 
Massachusetts  Convention  with  respedl  to  the  pro- 
posed union.  This  committee,  consisting  of  the  clergy 
of  the  churches  in  Newport,  Providence,  and  Bristol, 
proposed,  as  a  sort  oi  eirenicon  to  the  parish  of  St.  Paul, 
to  hold  the  adjourned,  or  rather  special,  session  with  it. 
It  does  not  appear  that  anything  in  the  nature  of  an  in- 
vitation had  been  extended  by  the  church  in  Wickford. 
But  in  a  most  conciliatory  address,  dated  July  22,1 809, 
andsigned  by  Alexander  V.Griswold, Theodore  Dehon, 
and  John  Ward,  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Dehon,  the 
committee,  after  dilating  affectionately  and  earnestly 
upon  the  evils  of  disunion  and  the  desirableness  of  co- 
operation in  the  proposed  eleilion  of  a  bishop,  con- 
clude: "As  a  step  towards  this  desirable  object,  we 


376  Notes 

propose,  should  it  meet  your  approbation,  to  hold  the 
special  convention,  above  mentioned,  in  North  Kings- 
ton, at  such  time,  within  a  fevi^  weeks  to  come,  as  shall 
be  most  agreeable  to  your  parish."  Replying  to  this  com- 
munication, on  the  3rd  of  August  following,  Daniel 
Updike,  Esq.,  one  of  the  wardens  of  St.  Paul's,  de- 
clares :  "  On  the  reception  of  your  letter,  with  the  in- 
closed resolutions  of  the  Convention,  I  called  a  Meeting 
of  the  Vestry  and  communicated  to  them  the  subject 
of  your  very  benevolent  address,  apparently  dictated  in 
the  most  feeling  manner  and  from  the  purest  motives, 
kindly  expressive  of  your  superintending  care. . . .  They 
are  desirous  of  complying  with  the  proposition  and  that 
you  would  dictate  the  time  for  the  adjourned  conven- 
tion to  meet  at  North  Kingston,  with  which  they  most 
cordially  agree.  They  are  not  insensible  of  the  good 
disposition  the  Convention  of  the  State  have  ever  shown 
for  the  benefit  of  this  Church.  But,  in  no  instance,  are 
they  sensible  of  having  merited  the  epithet  of  coolness, 
disunion  &c.  towards  our  sister  Churches,  you  are 
pleased  so  emphatically  to  express. ...  At  a  meeting  of 
the  Congregation  on  Easter  last,  a  Committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  write  to  the  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  as  our 
Diocesan^  having,  individually  and  colleitively,  placed 
ourselves  under  him.  Considering  a  Diocesan  a  corpo- 
rate body,  have  not  since,  uncanonically,  innovated 
on  the  Solemnity  of  the  Transa<5lion."  (See  Note  749.) 
When,  about  three  weeks  later,  the  Convention  met 
at  Wickford,  as  proposed,  it  was  found  that  St.  Paul's 
Church  was  still  unrepresented,  and  an  adjournment 
was  taken  until  afternoon  to  afford  it  an  opportunity 
to  appoint  delegates.  At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation, 
held  at  a  private  house  and  consisting  of  thirteen  mem- 
bers, it  was  "  Voted  and  Resolved  that  a  Committee  of 
Lay  Delegates  be,  and  they  are,  hereby  appointed  to  meet 
the  delegates  of  the  Churches  of  this  State,  now  as- 
sembled at  North  Kingston  on  this  23"^  August,  a.d. 
1 809,  which  said  Committee,  when  attendant  on  said 
Convention,  do,  or  shall,  perceive  that  said  Convention 


i 


Notes  377 

shall  attempt  or  agitate  anything  impairing  our  rights 
or  claims  upon  the  Church  estate,  then  this  Committee 
shall  withdraw  or  protest,  whichever  they  shall  deem 
most  proper;  and  that,  if  any  question  shall  be  proposed 
affixing  us  to  ayiy  Diocese  other  than  Connecticut^  that  the 
said  Lay  delegates  proceed  in  like  manner  asafores"*." 
The  meeting  then  appointed  six  laymen  to  attend  the 
convention  of  the  afternoon,  there  being  seven  all  to- 
gether, from  Newport,  Providence,  and  Bristol.  At  this 
session,  apparently  no  one  dissenting,  it  was  voted  to 
accede  to  the  proposal  of  the  Convention  of  Massachu- 
setts. No  record  appears  to  have  been  preserved  show- 
ing any  formal  vote  by  which  St.  Paul's  Church  returned 
into  full  union  with  the  diocese  of  Rhode  Island,  but 
after  1810  it  was  steadily  represented  in  the  annual 
conventions.  At  about  the  same  period  the  theory  of 
allegiance  to  the  Bishop  of  Connedlicut  appears  to  have 
been  abandoned,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  congregation 
held  September  19,  1 8 1  o,  it  was  "  Voted  that  this  Con- 
gregation do  unite  with  our  sister  churches  of  this  State 
in  the  choice  of  a  bishop  as  our  diocesan,  and  we  ap- 
prove of  the  election  of  the  Right  Reverend  Alexan- 
der V.  Griswold  and  hereby  acknowledge  him  as  the 
Diocesan  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  North  Kingstown." 
Bishop  Griswold  had  been  ele61:ed  at  a  convention  of 
the  Eastern  Diocese  held  in  the  preceding  May,  and 
was  consecrated  May  29,  181 1. 

754    ^'■'The  Rev.  James  Bowers." 

Mr.  Bowers  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1 794.  Near 
the  close  of  1796  he  took  charge  of  St.  Ann's  (now 
Christ)  Church,  Gardiner,  Maine,  supplying  clerical 
services  also,  after  1800,  to  St.  Paul's  Church,  Port- 
land, where  Timothy  Hilliard,  later  its  reftor,  was  em- 
ployed as  a  lay  reader.  In  1802,  Mr.  Bowers  removed  to 
Marblehead,  succeeding  the  Rev.  William  Harris  in  the 
rectorship  of  St.  Michael's  Church.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Massachusetts  Convention  of  1809,  which  took 
measures  to  secure  the  ele6lion  of  a  bishop  over  the 
Church  in  Massachusetts,  New  Hampshire,  Rhode  Is- 


378  Notes 

land,  and  Vermont.  In  1812,  Mr.  Bowers  resigned  the 
reftorship  of  St.  Michael's  and  accepted  that  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Wickford.  During  his  brief  re61:orship  of  two 
years  he  officiated  chiefly  in  South  Kingstown,  residing 
presumably  in  the  glebe  house.  It  was  due  probably  to 
this  fa61:  that  the  Diocesan  Convention  of  18 13,  on  the 
second  of  June,  with  an  attendance  of  the  bishop,  three 
clergymen,  and  five  laymen,  was  held  in  the  glebe 
house  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Narragansett,  now  one  of 
the  most  out-of-the-way  and  forsaken  spots  in  the  State 
of  Rhode  Island.  This  was  the  first  session  of  the  con- 
vention (organized  in  1 790)  at  which  St.  Paul's  Church 
was  represented  by  a  clergyman.  In  the  special  con- 
vention held  at  Newport  in  April,  18 14,  Mr.  Bowers 
presented  the  first  parochial  report  of  St.  Paul's  parish 
appearing  in  the  Journal,  the  custom  of  presenting  re- 
ports having  been  introduced  only  the  previous  year.  It 
is  very  brief:  "  Marriages,  i  ;  Burials,  i ;  Baptisms, — ." 
An  instrument  is  in  existence  by  which  the  two 
wardens  of  the  church,  Daniel  Updike  and  Thomas  R. 
Gardiner,  for  the  purpose  of  settling  an  ailion,  &c., 
agreed  and  stipulated,  April  6,  181 3,  "that  the  Posses- 
sion of  all  the  Lands  belonging  to  said  Saint  Paul's 
Church,  viz.  the  Glebe  Land  and  the  whole  of  the  Case 
Estates,  be  hereby  yielded  and  surrendered  up  to  the  Rev- 
erend James  Bowers,  Pastor  of  said  Church  &c."  Very 
little  is  known  of  Mr.  Bowers's  family,  but  in  an  extant 
note  of  his  he  speaks  of  "the  bearer  of  this,  my  son." 

755    '■'■  Lemuel  BurgeT 

Mr.  Burge  had  been  a  resident  of  Litchfield,  Connecti- 
cut, where  he  received  part  of  his  theological  training 
from  his  pastor, the  Rev.  Truman  Marsh,  the  remainder 
being  from  the  learned  Dr.  William  Smith,  his  some- 
time predecessor  in  the  re6lorship  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 
While  a  candidate  for  Orders  he  was  sent  to  Wick- 
ford by  Bishop  Griswold,  with  this  commendation  from 
the  re^lorof  St.  Michael's,  Litchfield:  "I  am  well  satis- 
fied he  is  firmly  attached  to  the  government,  doctrine  and 
discipline  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  a  good  scholar 


Notes  379 

and  reads  the  prayers  of  the  Church  with  great  propriety 
and  solemnity  and  bids  fair  to  be  a  useful  clergyman." 

He  was  ordained  to  the  diaconate  by  Bishop  Hobart 
in  April,  1820,  and  in  August  of  the  same  year  to  the 
priesthood  by  Bishop  Griswold.  In  June  of  the  same 
summer  he  was  married  by  the  Rev.  Salmon  Wheaton, 
of  Newport,  to  Elizabeth  Frances,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
William  G.  and  Elizabeth  (Brenton)  Shaw.^"'  His  first 
residence  as  re61:or  was  the  old  glebe  house,  in  South 
Kingstown,  although  in  a  year  or  two  he  found  it  ex- 
pedient to  remove  to  Wickford,  where  he  would  be 
near  the  church.  Until  1832,  Mr.  Burge  officiated  alter- 
nately in  the  churches  of  North  Kingstown  and  South 
Kingstown,  but  later  confined  his  efforts  to  the  former. 
In  1858,  after  a  faithful  ministry  in  Rhode  Island, 
then  sometime  suspended,  but  continued  as  long  as 
his  somewhat  delicate  health  permitted,  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  diocese  of  New  York.  Here  he  continued 
to  exercise  his  office,  as  occasion  required,  in  various 
churches,  and  latest  of  all  at  St.  Peter's,  Brooklyn,  in 
association  with  the  Rev.  John  A.  Paddock,  afterwards 
Bishop  of  Olympia.  In  1864,  this  useful  and  worthy 
servant  of  God  was  suddenly  removed  from  the  world 
by  a  painful  casualty, his  funeral  occurring  in  the  church 
where  he  had  last  ministered  and  his  interment  in  Green- 
wood Cemetery. 

Several  of  his  numerous  family  have  been  most  val- 
ued residents  in  Wickford,  and  always  ardent  workers 
in  St.  Paul's  Church.  His  late  gifted  daughter,  Mrs.  F. 
Burge  Griswold,  was  the  author  of  the  lively  and  en- 
tertaining work  on  her  native  village  and  the  scene  of 
her  father's  labours,  published  in  1900,  under  the  title 
of  Old  Wickford. 

756    ''The  Rev.  Patrick  H.  Folker:' 

In  Swords's  Pocket  Almanack  of  1820,  there  is  given, 
among  the  clergy  of  Rhode  Island  (eight  in  all),  "The 
Rev.  Patrick  W.Falker^  Deacon,  officiating  in  St.  Paul's 
Church,  North  Kingston,  and  St.  Paul's  Church,  South 
Kingston,"  Mr.  Folker's  (or  Falker's)  name  does  not 


380  Notes 

appear  among  the  clerical  members  of  any  convention 
in  Rhode  Island,  but  in  the  journal  of  18 19  is  found 
the  following  record :  "  Rev.  Mr.  Folker,  officiating  as 
a  missionary  at  St.  Paul's  Churches,  reports,  verbally, 
that,  since  he  has  there  officiated,  there  has  been  added 
to  the  Communion  one;  one  has  died,  and  that  the  pre- 
sent number  of  Communicants  is  six."  At  the  same  con- 
vention Mr.  Folker  was  admitted  to  an  honorary  seat 
and  appeared  and  took  it  accordingly.  At  the  conven- 
tion of  April  25, 1820,  the  report  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
North  Kingstown,  was  made  by  a  layman.  Mrs. 
Dr.  William  G.  Shaw,  in  a  letter  to  her  kinswoman, 
Lady  Brenton,  in  England,  giving  a  sketch  of  the  Nar- 
ragansett  Parish  up  to  its  date,  March  27,  1824,  re- 
marks upon  "Mr.  Folker,a  Pious  minister  from  Charles- 
ton, So.  Carolina,  who  was  our  Pastor  one  year."  Two 
very  singular  and  even  surprising  events  marked  the 
period  of  the  beginning  of  Mr.  Folker's  ministration  at 
Wickford,  viz.,  Bishop  Griswold's  eleilion  to  the  rector- 
ship of  the  Parish  and  the  consecration, or  "dedication," 
of  the  church.  The  present  (1907)  re6lor  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  the  Rev.  F.  B.  Cole,  in  a  recent  letter,  relates, 
*'It  was  that  same  year,  April  12,  18 19,  that  the  Bishop 
was  eleCled  to  the  Re6lorship  of  the  Parish  here."  One 
cannot  help  speculating  upon  the  character  of  the  cir- 
cumstances which  emboldened  a  parish,  reporting  six 
communicants,  to  invite  to  its  charge  a  bishop  already 
reftor  of  a  church  of  above  one  hundred  and  sixty  com- 
municants, and  reporting,  the  same  year,  "about  fifty 
baptisms."  In  any  case  Bishop  Griswold  continued  redlor 
of  St.  Michael's  Church,  Bristol,  for  eleven  years  longer. 
It  is  equally  remarkable  that  a  church  edifice  should  con- 
tinue in  use  one  hundred  and  twelve  years  before  being 
dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God.  Yet  the  parish  record 
shows  that  at  a  meeting  held  April  24,  18 19,  it  was 
"Voted  and  resolved  that  the  Wardens,  or  either  of  them, 
be  and  are  hereby  requested  and  authorized  to  invite 
the  Rt.  Rev.  A.  V.  Griswold  to  consecrate  the  Church 
edifice  in  Wickford  and  set  it  apart  for  the  worship  and 
service  of  Almighty  God,  according  to  the  *  Canons' 


I 


J 


757 


Notes  381 

and  Liturgy  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  United  States  of  America."  At  the  convention  of 
the  Eastern  Diocese,  assembled  at  Newport,  September 
27,  1820,  Bishop  Griswold  noted,  in  his  address:  "In 
the  spring  of  last  year,  the  old  Church  in  North  Kings- 
town (R.  I.)  was  put  in  complete  repair  and  a  bell  has 
been  added.  On  the  6'*'  of  May  it  was  dedicated  to 
God's  glory  and  worship." 

^^The  Rev.  Francis  Peck.'' 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Henshaw,  in  his  memorial  sermon, 
preached  in  the  old  Narragansett  Church,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1885,  remarks  concerning  this  re6tor:  "In 
1834  the  Rev.  Francis  Peck  was  sent  here  by  the  R.  I. 
Convocation.  He  entered  upon  his  work  with  all  the 
zeal  of  a  young  and  ardent  Christian  manhood.  In  his 
first  report,  he  gives  fifteen  as  the  number  of  communi- 
cants, whom  he  found  here  to  greet  him,  nine  having 
been  since  added  and  ten  confirmed.  His  whole  time 
and  energies  could  be  devoted  to  his  ministerial  work. 
Consequently  there  was  a  very  marked  increase  of  vi- 
tality, notwithstanding  the  statement  he  makes  of  'the 
combination  of  circumstances  unfavourable  to  the  best 
interests  of  the  Church.' . . .  Towards  the  close  of  his 
short  ministry  of  about  two  years,  he  expresses  the  opin- 
ion that  'the  improvement  consists  in  a  more  intimate 
and  endearing  communion  among  the  members  of  the 
Church  and  in  a  realizing  sense  that,  as  individuals, 
they  have  solemn  and  important  duties  to  perform.'" 
After  leaving  Wickford,  Mr.  Peck  became  an  assistant 
of  the  Rev.  John  Bristed,  rector  of  St.  Michael's  Church, 
Bristol, and  redtor  of  St.  Andrew's  Church,  Providence. 

758    ''The  Rev.  John  H.  Rouse.'' 

Concerning  this  re6lorship  Dr.  Henshaw  (see  preceding 
Note)  bears  witness,  as  follows:"In  1841  the  Rev.  John 
H.  Rouse  had  become  reilor  and  the  Church  once  more 
had  the  undivided  care  of  its  minister.  Within  two  years 
the  number  of  communicants  was  nearly,  if  not  quite, 
doubled  and  the  rate  of  increase  of  attendance  upon 
the  services  of  the  Lord's  Day  and  at  other  times  much 


382  Notes 

greater.  The  Re6lor  sorely  complained  of  lack  of  room 
in  the  Church  and  the  need  of  a  new,  comfortable,  and 
convenient  building.  In  1847  there  was  an  immediate 
prospe6l  of  having  the  long-looked-for  church  'in  the 
centre  of  the  village,  with  nearly  double  the  number 
of  pews  in  the  old  church.'  On  St.  Paul's  Day,  1848, 
the  new  church  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Henshaw, 
who,  in  his  address  to  the  Convention,  in  the  follow- 
ing June,  after  referring  to  the  early  history  of  the  par- 
ish, says:  *■  A  new  era  has  come.  By  the  Lord's  blessing 
upon  means,  such  a  spirit  of  commendable  zeal  and 
energy  has  been  awakened  in  the  parish,  that  a  chaste 
and  beautiful  house  has  been  ere6led  and,  free  from 
debt,  has  been  consecrated  as  an  unencumbered  offer- 
ing to  the  Lord.'  . . .  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
parish  was  in  a  much  better  condition,  in  almost,  if 
not  quite,  every  respe61:,  when  Mr.  Rouse  left  it,  than 
when  he  entered  upon  the  charge."  The  new  church 
here  described  is  the  one  now  in  use,  standing  upon 
Main  Street.  In  1872,  it  was  considerably  enlarged,  a 
spire  and  a  clock  being  added. 

759    "The  Warwick  Church.'* 

The  exa6l  time  of  the  removal  of  the  old  Trinity  Church, 
Newport,  to  the  Warwick  shore  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained. It  was  later  than  March,  1725-6,  because  there 
is  evidence  that,  although  at  that  date  the  new  church 
at  Newport  was  approaching  completion,  the  old  one 
was  still  standing.  In  the  Annals  of  St.  'James's  Church., 
Netv  London.,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hallam,  there  is  printed  a 
letter  of  March  2 1, 1 725-6,  from  Dr.  MacSparran  to  the 
gentlemen  of  that  church  (to  whom  it  appears  that  the 
old  edifice  was  first  offered),  warning  them:  "If  you 
have  their  church,  you  must  Send  the  Carpenters,  you 
Intend  to  Raise  it,  to  pull  it  down."  [Annals  of  Trinity 
Church.,  Newport.,  pp.  40,  43.)  Neither  does  it  appear 
probable  that  the  church  had  been  set  up  at  Warwick  as 
early  as  any  part  of  the  following  summer.  On  August 
28,  1726,  Dr.  MacSparran  records,  in  the  Narragansett 
Register,  "  Baptized  ...  at  M'  Pigots  [Coweset  ?]  a 


Notes  383 

child  named  James  Alford."  If  a  church  had  been  then 
standing  close  at  hand,  it  is  quite  unlikely  that  the  Doc- 
tor would  have  performed  a  baptism  in  a  private  house. 

It  is  not,  however,  necessary  to  believe  that  the  Co- 
weset  Church  was  not  put  in  place  until  after  Septem- 
ber, 1728,  the  date  given  in  the  text  by  Mr.  Brayton 
as  the  time  of  the  conveyance  of  the  lot  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Pigot,  inasmuch  as  the  passing  of  the  deed  may  well 
have  been  for  some  time  delayed  after  the  verbal  gift 
of  the  land.  In  any  case,  the  church  at  Coweset  seems 
to  have  been  an  established  fa6l,  at  latest,  by  November 
17,  1729,  when  we  find  this  entry  in  the  Register: 
"M^  M'^Sparran  preached  to  a  large  Congregation  at 
Warwick."  The  first  express  allusion  to  the  edifice  ap- 
pears to  be  the  following:  '•'•Warwick  Cch  Aug^'  the 
14'*^  1737  Do6lor  Macsparran  Then  and  there  baptized 
two  children."  During  the  period  of  the  Do6lor's  Diary 
(1743-51)  he  shows  himself  to  have  been  regular  in 
his  monthly  ministrations  at  what  he  calls,  according  to 
the  usage  of  that  day,  Coeset^  generally  on  the  second 
Sunday  of  the  month,  frequently  officiating  among  his 
flock  at  Old  Warwick  on  the  preceding  Saturday  or 
the  following  Monday.  After  Dr.  MacSparran's  death, 
in  1 75  7,  the  congregation  dwindled  away  and  the  church 
was  eventually  closed. 

Mr.  Fayerweather  records  repeatedly , during  1 7 6 1  -2, 
officiating  "at  Warwick,"  but  in  no  case  does  he  make 
it  clear  that  it  was  at  Coeset  Church  that  he  ministered, 
and  in  some  at  least  it  is  evident  that  he  refers  to  Old 
Warwick,  where,  according  to  Mr.  Brayton,  as  late  as 
1 764,  there  appears  to  have  been  a  sufficient  number  of 
interested  Churchmen  to  foster  the  idea  of  removing  the 
edifice  thither.  The  latest  recorded  service  of  a  Narra- 
gansett  reftor  in  this  field  was  in  September,  1773, 
when  Mr.  Fayerweather  notes  that,  on  his  way  home 
from  the  annual  convention  at  Boston,  he  preached 
at  Warwick.  But  it  is  evident  that  the  regular  minis- 
trations to  the  charge  at  this  period,  recognized  by 
the  Society,  were  supplied  by  the  missionary  of  King's 
Church,  Providence,  and  that  they  were  rendered  at  what 


384  Notes 

is  known  as  Old  Warwick.  In  1761,  the  Rev.  John 
Graves  reported  that  he  had,  for  the  last  three  years, 
kept  together  "  the  little  Church  of  Warwick,  ten  miles 
from  Providence,  and  given  them  constant  attendance, 
preaching,  administering  the  Lord's  Supper,  .  .  .  visit- 
ing their  sick  and  burying  their  dead."  For  this  service 
the  Society  ordered  him  a  gratuity.  Speaking  of  the  peo- 
ple of  that  charge  again  in  1 762,  Mr.  Graves  remarks: 
"They  lie  within  ten  miles  of  Providence  and  twenty 
from  the  nearest  other  Episcopal  minister."  This  state- 
ment was  true  of  Old  Warwick,  but  would  not  have 
been  so,  if  the  church  building  at  Coeset,  on  the  War- 
wick shore,  had  been  referred  to,  inasmuch  as  that  was 
much  farther  than  ten  miles  from  Providence  and  less 
than  fifteen  from  Mr.  Fayerweather's  residence,  at  St. 
Paul's  glebe.  Appropriations  continued  to  be  made  to 
Mr.  Graves  for  his  services  at  Warwick  up  to  the  end 
of  the  Revolutionary  War,  in  1783.  There  is  a  curious 
intimation  that,  after  all,  the  church  may  have  been  ac- 
tually removed  from  Coweset  to  Old  Warwick  and  that 
Mr.  Brayton  may  have  been  misled  by  an  unfounded 
tradition,  in  his  statement  in  the  text,  that  after  the 
building  had  been  taken  down  for  that  purpose,  about 
1764,  "the  materials,  having  been  conveyed  to  the 
shore,  were  scattered  and  lost  during  a  storm,  which 
arose  soon  after."  Mr.  Graves,  re6tor  of  King's  Church, 
Providence,  who  had  been  appointed  by  the  Society,  in 
1763,  "to  officiate  at  the  Church  of  Warwick  once  a 
month,on  Sundays," reported  to  it, November  19,1776, 
that  he  "continueth  to  baptize,  visit  the  sick,  bury  the 
dead  and  attend  his  people  at  their  houses,  although  his 
two  churches  are  shut  up" 

At  the  time  of  the  demolition  of  the  Warwick  Church, 
perhaps  in  1764  but  very  probably  not  until  after  the 
close  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  a  set  of  fine  service 
books,  which  had  been  presented  to  it  by  the  Bishop  of 
London  in  1750,  passed  into  the  custody  of  a  neigh- 
bouring family,  by  which,  for  a  century,  they  were  pi- 
ously preserved.  When,  in  1880,  St.  Mary's  Chapel,  at 
Warwick  Neck,  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Clark,  the 


Notes  385 

ancient  volumes  were  brought  out  and  placed  upon  its 
altar,  to  remain  perpetually  in  its  possession. 

760  "He  probably  obtained  the  means.'' 

Inasmuch  as,  according  to  the  records  of  the  S.  P.  G., 
the  Rev.  George  Pigot  closed  his  mission  in  Rhode 
Island  in  1726,  and  the  church  could  not  have  been 
removed  from  Newport  before  the  latterpart  of  that  year, 
it  is  scarcely  probable  that  his  efforts  extended  beyond 
the  gift  of  a  lot,  out  of  his  wife's  Coeset  land.  He  was 
himself  a  man  of  very  limited  means,  being  obliged, 
after  his  removal  to  Marblehead,  to  apply  to  the  Society, 
in  1738,  for  an  advance  of  ;^20  upon  his  stated  salary 
of  i^6o,  on  account  of  the  sickness  and  death  of  his 
children  and  an  accident  to  his  own  arm.  At  about  the 
same  time  Mr.  Pigot  petitioned  the  S.  P.  G.,on  account 
of  the  expensiveness  of  living  at  Marblehead  and  the 
low  estate  of  the  Church  there,  to  be  removed  to  War- 
wick, Rhode  Island,  with  a  view,  no  doubt,  to  enjoy- 
ing his  property  in  that  town.  The  request  was  not, 
however,  granted.  (Batchelder's  History  of  the  Eastern- 
Diocese^  i.  468-9.)  The  inhabitants  of  Old  Warwick, — 
the  Lippets,  the  Francises,  the  Staffords,  the  Wickeses, 
and  the  Greenes, — who  appear  to  have  favoured  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  Church  at  Coeset, — were  people  of 
substance  and  liberality  and  doubtless  gave  largely  for 
the  removal  of  the  church. 

761  ^^ 'There  has  not  been  any  Episcopal  church  in  that 
town  since .'^ 

A  chronicler  of  the  period  when  the  Warwick  Church 
was  taken  down  recorded  his  opinion  that  there  was 
plainly  no  demand  for  the  Church  of  England  in  the 
town  of  Warwick.  For  eighty  years,  until  the  organi- 
zation of  St.  Philip's  Church,  Crompton,in  1845,  this 
conviction  remained  apparently  well  founded.  In  the 
course  of  nine  years,  recently,  however,  four  tasteful 
new  churches  were  consecrated  within  the  limits  of  the 
town:  St.  Mary's,  Warwick  Neck,  July  i,  1880;  St. 
Philip's,  Crompton,  June  22, 1882;  St.  Barnabas's,Ap- 


386  Notes 

ponaug,  January  3,  1883;  and  All  Saints',  Pontiac,  Oc-' 
tober  9,  1888;  while  within  the  same  time  there  were 
consecrated  two  others  standing  just  over  the  town  line, 
but  largely  attended  by  Warwick  people:  St.  Luke's, 
East  Greenwich,  OcSlober  18,  1880;  and  St.  Andrew's, 
Phenix,  November  30,  1886. 

762  "Edward  PigoL" 

Mr.  Pigot  married,  at  Warwick,  in  1 733,  Ruth  Havens 
(a  daughter  of  Robert),  a  son,  Richard,  being  born  to 
them  there,  as  well  as  the  daughter  Rebecca,  whose 
baptism  is  here  recorded.  Robert  Havens,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Pigot,  was  a  proprietor  of  considerable  land  in  East 
Greenwich  and  a  member  of  the  Havens  family  men- 
tioned in  the  early  part  of  this  work  as  the  owners  of 
"Havens'  Tavern,"  at  the  "Devil's  Foot,"  in  North 
Kingstown,  where  Madam  Knight  tarried, on  her  jour- 
ney on  horseback  from  Boston  to  New  York,  in  1704. 
It  is  noticeable  that  the  date  of  this  baptism,  1736, 
was  about  ten  years  after  the  departure  from  Warwick 
of  the  Rev.  George  Pigot. 

763  "John  Dickinson.'* 

Captain  John  Dickinson  was  a  son  of  Charles  Dick- 
inson, of  Jamestown,  Rhode  Island,  and  Phillip  («V), 
a  daughter  of  Major  John  Greene,  "of  Occupasue- 
tuxet,"  Warwick.  Charles  Dickinson  was  a  son  of 
John  Dickinson  and,  on  his  mother's  side,  a  grandson 
of  John  Howland,  of  the  Mayfiower.  There  can  be  little 
doubt  that  he  is  identical  with  the  Charles  Dickin- 
son*^^  who  was  one  of  the  earliest  recorded  ves,try  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Narragansett,  and  who  is  mentioned 
as  the  father  of  Mrs.  John  Case,  of  Tower  Hill.  In 
1730,  Captain  Dickinson  (called"of  Newport")  pur- 
chased land  in  Coweset  (or  Coeset)  of  William  Greene, 
his  first  cousin,  a  son  of  Captain  Samuel  Greene, besides 
buying  one  hundred  acres  of  Benjamin  Greene,  another 
son  of  Captain  Samuel.  William  Greene  was  later  for 
eleven  years  governor  of  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island, 
and  was  the  proprietor  of  a  large  tra6t  in  that  portion 
of  Warwick  nearest  to  East  Greenwich.  It  is  probable 


J 


Notes  387 

that  Captain  Dickinson  took  up  his  residence  in  Co- 
weset  soon  after  buying  the  above  land,  and  remained 
there  until  about  1740,  when  he  sold  land,  probably 
the  same  that  he  had  bought  ten  years  before,  to  his 
kinsman,  the  future  Governor  William  Greene.  (^The 
Greenes  of  Rhode  Island^  pp.  76,  77.)  John  Dickinson 
(born  1 699)  was  married  in  1 7 1 8,  by  the  Rev.  William 
Guy,  to  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
Phillips,  of  Kingstown,  where  his  family  seems  to  have 
lived  until  removing  to  Coweset. 

Dr.  MacSparran  records,  in  his  Diary ^  under  date  of 
April  22,  1745,"!  rode  5  miles  from  Home  and  bap- 
tized child  7  years  old  called  Christopher  Dickinson." 
This  was  a  younger  brother  of  the  Charles  whose  bap- 
tism is  recorded  in  the  text.  He  was  probably  named 
for  his  uncle  Christopher  Phillips,  that  Christian  name 
being  a  favourite  one  in  the  Phillips  family.  The  Doc- 
tor throws  no  light  upon  the  direction  in  which  he 
"rode  5  miles,"  but  the  statement  seems  to  indicate 
that  Captain  Dickinson,  after  leaving  Warwick,  made 
his  residence  in  some  part  of  the  former  town  of  Kings- 
town, perhaps  returning  to  the  house  of  his  father-in- 
law,  at  Phillips's  Brook,  North  Kingstown.  The  eld- 
est child  of  John  and  Mary  Dickinson  was  named  Sam- 
uel, born  February  6,  1719-20,  "Near  Seaven  of  the 
Clock  in  the  after  Noon  and  on  the  i  o""  was  Baptized  by 
the  Reverend  Mr  James  Honyman,"  it  being  previously 
to  the  arrival  of  Mr.  MacSparran.  Charles  Dickinson, 
whose  son  Thomas  was  baptized  in  infancy,  by  Mr. 
MacSparran,  August  16, 1726,  appears  to  have  been  a 
brother  of  Captain  John  Dickinson,  being  called  Charles 
Dickinson,  junior,  in  a  later  entry.  Ann  Dickinson, 
who  was  married  to  Arthur  Gates  Auchmuty,  Septem- 
ber 3,  1734,  was  probably  a  sister  of  the  two.  In  a  re- 
cord of  November  27,  1737,  Dr.  MacSparran  men- 
tions baptizing  Mary,  a  "  Daughter  of  Charles  Dick- 
inson tertius,  The  Son  Charles  Jun"^  who  also  is  the 
Son  of  Charles  Dickinson  of  Narragansett  now  live- 
ing." 


388  Notes 

764  "Mr.  Levallyy 

The  Levally  family  of  Warwick  and  Coventry  is  of 
French  Protestant  origin,  but  unconnected  with  the 
Huguenot  settlers  of  Frenchtown,  East  Greenwich. 
The  founder  of  the  family  in  America,  Peter  Levally 
(Pierre  Le  Vall6),  is  believed  to  have  been  born  in  the 
Channel  Islands.  It  is  almost  certain  that  he  landed  in 
Marblehead,  Massachusetts,  somewhere  about  1700, 
where  he  was  in  the  fishing  business.  He  seems  to 
have  been  living  there  in  1 726  or  1 727,  at  the  time  of 
the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  George  Pigot,  from  Rhode  Is- 
land, to  become  re6lor  of  St.  Michael's  Church.  In 
November,  1 727,  he  exchanged  his  house  and  large  lot 
in  that  town  for  a  traCt  of  land  belonging  to  Mr.  Pigot, 
near  the  jundiion  of  the  north  branch  and  the  south 
of  the  Pawtuxet  River,  and  called  by  that  gentleman 
"Monteagle."  Mr.  Levally  appears  to  have  removed 
immediately  after  this  transaction  to  Rhode  Island, 
and  to  have  continued  to  live  upon  his  estate  there  un- 
til his  death,  in  1757.  His  wife  was  named  Sarah,  and 
probably  came  with  him  from  the  Channel  Islands. 
They  had  at  least  six  children, — Peter,  John,  Michel, 
Mary,  Margaret,  and  Sarah. 

Mr.  Levally,  havingbeen  an  attendant  at  St. Michael's 
Church,  Marblehead,  seems  to  have  identified  himself 
promptly  upon  his  arrival  in  Warwick  with  the  new 
church  at  Cowesett  (or  Coeset).  It  is  recorded  that, 
March  19, 1 73 7,  James  Utter  sold  to  Anthony  A.  Rice 
the  farm  of  fifty  acres  lying  on  the  south  side  of  the 
north  branch  of  the  Pawtuxet  River  (opposite  the  vil- 
lage now  called  Lippitt),  "bounded  southerly  partly  on 
land  of  yohn  Levalley  and  partly  on  land  of  the  heirs  of 
Michael  Levalley^  west  on  land  of  Peter  Levalley^  north 
and  east  on  the  north  branch  of  the  Pawtuxet  River." 
So  extensive  were  the  lands  of  the  Levallys  in  those 
days  that  they  were  said  to  embrace  "all  that  you  can 
see."  When  Dr.  MacSparran  baptized  Samuel  King,  at 
Coeset  Church,  April  21,  1745  (a  young  son  of  Mag- 
dalene King),  one  of  the  sponsors  is  said,  in  the  re- 
cord, to  have  been  "Mr.Lavally,"  presumably  his  grand- 


( 


Notes  389 

father.  It  is  probable  that  "Magdalene  King"  was  the 
son-in-law  rather  than  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Levally, 
as  stated  in  the  text,  inasmuch  as,  in  the  record  of  the 
baptism  of  two  other  children  (called  Susannah  and 
Eliza  King),it  is  said  that  "their  /V  is  Madylane  King.''^ 
The  Christian  name  of  the  mother  does  not  here  ap- 
pear, but  is  known,  from  other  records,  to  have  been 
Mary,  that  of  the  eldest  of  the  daughters  of  Peter  Le- 
vally, enumerated  above. 

765  ''■Moses  LippiL" 

Dr.  MacSparran,  in  his  Diary^  repeatedly  records  his 
visits  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Lippit  at  Old  Warwick,  he 
being  very  evidently  a  hospitable  and  generous  host.  The 
date  of  Moses  Lippit's  birth  is  not  known,  but  he  was 
still  a  minor  when  his  father  made  his  will,  January  6, 
1700.  He  became  a  freeman  in  1704.  For  the  period 
in  which  Mr.  Lippit  lived  he  was  a  man  of  wealth.  To 
each  of  his  five  sons  he  devised  large  and  valuable  lots 
of  land,  much  of  it  being  of  unstated  amount,  but  more 
than  four  hundred  acres  being  specified  lying  in  Pro- 
vidence, Natick,  Warwick,  and  "  Pascouge "  (Pascoag). 
The  inventory  of  his  personal  estate  reached  the  then 
unusual  sum  of  ^^2090. 

766  "Henry  Knowles.'' 

Mr.  Knowles  was  born  in  1609,  and  died  in  January, 
1670.  At  the  time  of  the  earliest  record  concerning  him 
he  was  living  in  Portsmouth,  Rhode  Island,  but  in  1654 
he  sold  his  house  and  land  there  and  removed  to  War- 
wick, being  admitted  a  freeman  of  that  town  in  1655. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  appears  to  have  been  living 
in  Kingstown,  where  he  left  "my  now  dwelling"  to  his 
son  Henry  and  land  to  his  son  William. 

767  "  Joseph  Whipple^ 

Colonel  Whipple  has  been  already  noticed,  in  letters  of 
the  Rev.  James  Honyman  and  Gabriel  Bernon,  con- 
cerningthe  beginning  of  St.  John's  Church,  Providence, 
in  the  early  part  of  this  work.  He  will  also  be  found 
mentioned  below,  in  the  sketch  of  St.  John's,  as  its 


390  Notes 

principal  patron,  at  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the  first 
church.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-four,  dying  in 
1 746.  His  daughter  Anphillis  (whom,  however,  he  calls 
Ann  in  his  will)  was  born  06lober  6,  1689,  and,  like  her 
sister,  received  ^300  from  him  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

768  ''John  Rhodesr 

Major  John  Rhodes,  of  Warwick  (born  November  20, 
1 69 1;  died  1776),  was  a  son  of  John  Rhodes  and  a 
grandson  of  Zachariah  Rhodes,  of  Providence,  the  ori- 
ginal settler  of  that  name  in  Rhode  Island.  His  mother, 
Waite  (Waterman)  Rhodes,  was  a  granddaughter  of 
Roger  Williams.  He  married,  April  29,  17 14,  Catha- 
rine Holden,  who  became  the  mother  of  his  first  nine 
children, and  (second)  Mary  Whipple,  who  had  one  son. 
He  does  not  appear  to  have  been  possessed  of  large 
means,  one  clause  of  his  will  being  ''To  daughter  Wait 
Lippitt's  children  two  Spanish  milled  dollars." 

769  ''Abraham  Francis ^ 

Dr.  MacSparran  makes  many  references  to  Mr.  Francis, 
in  his  Dlary^  frequently  holding  services  at  his  house 
at  Old  Warwick,  as  well  as  staying  there  as  a  guest. 
The  two  were  evidently  very  closely  attached  friends. 

770  "Anthony  Holden.'' 

Anthony  Holden  (born  November  8,  1693)  was  a  son 
of  Lieutenant  Charles  Holden  (born  March  22,  1666; 
died  July  21,  1 7 1 7)  and  a  grandson  of  Captain  Randall 
Holden,  the  original  settler  of  the  name  in  Rhode  Is- 
land. His  mother  was  Catharine  Greene,  a  daughter 
of  Major  John  Greene,  and  a  granddaughter  of  John 
Greene,  surgeon.  Anthony  Holden  married  Phebe,  a 
daughterof  John  and  Waite  (Waterman)  Rhodes.  Waite 
Rhodes,  wife  of  Moses  Lippitt,  and  Catharine  Holden, 
wife  of  Christopher,  were  first  cousins.  The  Greenes  of 
Rhode  Island  (p.  79)  places  the  marriage  of  Christopher 
Lippitt  and  Catharine  Holden  at  January  2, 1 736, rather 
than  1 740,  as  in  the  text. 


Notes  391 

^^He  afterwards  removed  into  Cranston.'' 
At  the  death,  December  12,  1745,  of  Moses  Lippitt, 
grandfather  of  General  Christopher,  "one  hundred  and 
ten  acres  of  land  in  Natick"  passed,  by  his  will,  to  his 
son  Christopher,  the  father  of  the  General.  It  was  pro- 
bably the  same  estate,  in  Meshanticut,  upon  which  he  had 
been  for  some  time  living,  he  having  been  married  (see 
preceding  Note)  in  1736.  Dr.  MacSparran,  in  his  Z)z(?ry, 
under  date  May  17,  1745,  records  how  he  "rode  14 
miles  to  Xtopher  Lippet's,  who  lives  well  and  kind  [lyj 
entertained  my  Companion,  Benj"  Mumford,  and  my- 
self." Again,  on  November  17,  1 751,  he  sets  down: 
"  Went  to  Shanticut  to  see  Mr.  Xtopher  Lippet,  who  has 
lost  his  Eldest  Son  and  5  other  of  his  children  are  sick 
with  y^  Distemper  called  y*"  Canker  in  y^  Throat."  Shan- 
ticut is  obviously  a  shortened  form  of  Meshanticut,  the 
full  Indian  name  of  the  locality  between  and  to  the 
northward  of  the  present  villages  of  Natick  and  Pon- 
tiac,  so  called  from  the  Meshanticut  Brook,  which  here 
runs  from  the  north  into  the  Pawtuxet  River.  The  name 
is  still  preserved  in"  Meshanticut  Park,"  in  the  vicinity, 
occupied  by  suburban  residences.  A  saw-mill  had  been 
established  upon  or  near  the  estate  of  the  Lippitts.  The 
next  day,  after  the  above  entry,  the  Dodlor  records: 
"  We  left  M'  Lippet's  about  1 1  a  Clock,  crossed  one 
Bridge  near  his  Saw  mill,  rode  over  y^  Force,  and  crossed 
y"  South  Branch."  As  Mr.  Updike  narrates  in  the  text 
that  General  Lippitt  inherited  the  great  landed  estate 
of  his  father,  it  is  not  unlikely  that  "his  farm  in  Cran- 
ston," to  which  he  removed  after  the  War  of  the  Re- 
volution and  on  which  he  died,  was  the  same  one  as  that 
alluded  to  in  the  above  extradls,  much  of  the  Meshan- 
ticut region  lying  in  that  town.  It  seems  to  be  an  error 
in  the  text  that  Colonel  Lippitt  was  appointed  Major- 
General  of  State's  militia.  In  the  May  sessions  of  the 
General  Assembly,  from  1780  to  1786,  he  was  con- 
tinuously elected  Brigadier-Generzl  of  the  militia,  in 
the  county  of  Providence.  (Rhode  Island  Colonial  Re- 
cords, ix.  55,  385,  543,  692;  X.  23,  195.) 

General  Lippitt  was  born  in  Cranston,  in  1 744.  An 


392  Notes 

old  memorandum,  otherwise  verified,  reads :  "  Died  at 
Cranston,  June  1 8, 1 8 24,  General  Christopher  Lippitt, 
adistinguishedofficer  of  the  Revolution,  aged  80."  The 
beginnings  of  Methodism  in  that  part  of  Rhode  Island 
are  among  the  most  engaging  of  the  chronicles  of  that 
order.  As  St.  Paul,  in  sending  his  greetings  to  the  Chris- 
tians at  Rome,  Priscilla  and  Aquila,  speaks  of  "The 
church  that  is  in  their  house,"  so,  at  first,  the  church  of 
the  Wesleyans,  in  the  valley  of  the  Pawtuxet,  was  con- 
fined to  a  single  devout  family.  General  Christopher 
Lippitt,  whose  attention,  during  his  service  in  the  Re- 
volutionary War,  had  been  turned  to  the  spirituality  and 
enthusiasm  of  the  Methodists  by  his  brother  in  New 
York,  made  his  house  in  Cranston  a  centre  of  hospi- 
tality for  all  the  preachers  of  the  order  who  passed  that 
way.  As  early  as  the  autumn  of  1 791,  Jesse  Lee  was 
led  to  the  house  of  General  Lippitt  and  preached  to 
him  and  his  family,  from  that  time  on,  the  place  being 
one  of  the  best  known  homes  of  travelling  ministers. 
Bishop  Asbury  speaking  of  the  host  as  one  who  kept 
"an  open  house  for  Methodists."  In  1794,  Mr.  Lee 
again  visited  General  Lippitt's, forming  "a  class,"  a  few 
from  the  outside  having  become  interested.  Not  only  the 
General  and  his  daughter,  but  also  Mrs.  Lippitt,  at  this 
time  became  members  of  the  Methodist  body,  although 
he  at  least  had  been  brought  up  in  the  Episcopal  Church, 
his  mother,  Katherine  (or  Catharine)  (Holden)  Lippitt,"° 
"  wife  of  Xtopher  Lippet  of  Shanticut,"  having  been  bap- 
tized, by  Dr.  MacSparran,  by  immersion,  in  Old  War- 
wick Cove,  August  9,  1746.  In  1800,  General  Lippitt 
built  a  chapel  for  the  use  of  the  Methodists  upon  hisown 
estate,  it  becoming  a  favourite  place  for  the  holding  of 
"Quarterly  Meetings,"  Mrs.  Lippitt  being  known,  at 
such  times,  to  have  lodged  as  many  as  thirty  guests  in 
her  roomy  house.  On  one  occasion,  in  1 802,  Bishop  As- 
bury and  Richard  Whatcoat  ordained,  in  that  little  sanc- 
tuary, several  preachers.  On  Sundays,  when  no  minis- 
ter could  be  procured  to  hold  the  services,. General  Lip- 
pitt himself  led  the  congregation  in  its  devotions,  read- 
ing a  sermon,  generally  one  of  John  Wesley's.  So  pro- 


Notes  393 

found  was  his  old-fashioned  reverence  for  sacred  places 
that  he  was  accustomed,  before  entering  the  desk,  on 
such  occasions, in  literal  accordance  with  the  angelic  in- 
jun6tion  to  Moses  at  Horeb,  "Put  off  thy  shoes  from 
off  thy  feet,"  carefully  to  remove  his  boots.  With  his 
long  white  hair  and  silvery  beard,  as  well  as  his  deeply 
devout  manner,  the  venerable  octogenarian  looked,  in 
the  eyes  of  the  worshippers,  like  one  of  the  prophets 
in  the  Old  Testament.  As  population  increased  in  the 
now  swarming  valley  of  the  Pawtuxet,  Methodist  ser- 
vices began  to  be  held  in  the  villages,  and  General  Lip- 
pitt's  little  chapel,  in  the  midst  of  scattered  families,  fell 
into  disuse. 

772    "Charles  Lippity 

Mr.  Lippitt  was  about  ten  years  the  junior  of  his  dis- 
tinguished brother.  General  Christopher  Lippitt,  and 
outlived  him  by  more  than  twenty  years.  He  married 
Penelope  Low  and  had  a  son,  Warren  Lippitt,  who  was 
in  early  life  a  sea-captain  and  subsequently  a  cotton 
merchant  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  and  Savannah, 
Georgia.  Governor  Henry  Lippitt,  a  son  of  Warren, 
was  born  O6lober  9,  18 18,  and  early  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits  and  later  in  manufailures.  In  1840,  he 
wasaftive  in  reorganizingthe  Providence  Marine  Corps 
of  Artillery  and,  in  1842,  was  ele6led  Ueutenant-colo- 
nel  of  the  corps,  commanding  a  portion  of  the  com- 
pany, armed  and  drilled  as  infantry,  during  the  "  Dorr 
War"  of  that  year.  In  1875,  Mr.  Lippitt  was  eleded 
governor  of  Rhode  Island. 

Governor  Charles  Warren  Lippitt,  eldest  son  of  Gov- 
ernor Henry  Lippitt,  was  born  in  Providence,  06lober  8, 
1 846, and  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1865.  Four 
years  later  he  began  his  adtive  career  by  association  with 
his  father  in  several  of  the  extensive  manufailuring  es- 
tablishments, with  which  he  was  identified  as  proprie- 
tor and  manager.  Governor  Lippitt  has  spent  his  entire 
business  life,  to  the  present  year  (1907), in  connediion 
with  the  manufadluring  enterprises  of  Rhode  Island. 
In  April,  1895,  he  was  elected  to  be  chief  executive  of 


394  Notes 

the  State  and,  in  1896,  reeledled  to  the  office.  {The 
Greenes  of  Rhode  Island,  pp.  79,  80.) 

773  ^^  Thomas  Stafford.'* 

Thomas  Stafford  was  born  in  1605.  After  leaving  Ply- 
mouth, Massachusetts,  he  lived  for  sofne years  in"Nieu- 
Port,"  Rhode  Island,  his  name  appearing  on  the  list  of 
inhabitants  of  that  town  after  May  20, 1638,  seventeen 
acres  there  being  granted  to  him.  As  late  as  1647  he 
ailed  as  witness  of  a  will  in  the  neighbouring  town  of 
Portsmouth.  The  evidence  that  Mr.  Stafford  "came  to 
Providence"  in  accordance  with  the  tradition  noted  in 
the  text,  if  residence  there  be  included  in  the  statement, 
appears  to  be  defe6live.  His  name  is  found  on  "The 
Roule  of  y*  Freemen  of  y*"  Colonie  of  everie  Towne," 
of  1655,  as  a  resident  of  "  Warwicke,"  although  there 
is  ground  for  believing  that  he  removed  thither  before 
1652.  (Colonial  Records  of  Rhode  Island,  i.  92,  302.) 

774  ''Stukeley  Westcotty 

Stukeley  Westcott  (born  1592;  died  January  12, 1677) 
was  made  a  freeman  and  received  as  an  inhabitant,  at 
Salem,  Massachusetts,  in  1636.  In  1638,  having  been 
given  "a  Hcense  to  depart,"  amounting  to  an  order  to 
do  so, he  removed  to  Providence,where,on  October  8th, 
he,  with  eleven  others,  received  from  Roger  Williams 
a  deed  of  land,  bought  by  him  from  the  Indian  chiefs. 
Mr.  Westcott  was  one  of  the  twelve  original  members 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  organized  at  Providence,  in 
1 639.  In  1 648,  he  became  (or  was  recorded  as  such)  an 
inhabitant  of  Warwick.  In  his  will,  made  on  the  day  of 
his  death  and  not  signed,  he  gave  away  land  in  Potowo- 
mut,  "Toseunk,"  Coweset,  Warwick,  and  Shawomet. 

775  '■'■Roger  Burlingamey 

The  date  of  Mr.  Burlingame's  birth  is  unknown,  but 
he  is  believed  to  have  been  at  Stonington,  Conne6licut, 
as  early  as  1654.  In  1660,  he  appears  at  Warwick.  In 
1 67 1,  at  the  September  session  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly held  at  Newport,  it  was  ordered,  "That  Thomas 
Relph,  Roger  Burlingham  and  John  Harrud,  or  any  two 


Notes  395 

of  them,  shall  be  the  persons  to  make  the  rate  and  levie 
the  assessment  on  the  inhabitants  of  Meshantatat  [Cran- 
ston]." (Colonial  Records  of  Rhode  Island,  ii.  413.)  In 
the  same  year  Roger  Burlingame  removed  to  Providence, 
where  he  became  a  member  of  the  tovi^n  council. 

776  '■^Samuel  Bennett^ 

The  Samuel  Bennett  here  referred  to  was  a  son  of  the 
original  settler  of  that  name,  who  first  appeared  in  Pro- 
vidence in  1652,  where  he  was  "General  Sergeant" 
and  held  other  offices,  removing  to  East  Greenwich 
about  1678,  where  he  was  granted  by  the  Assembly  one 
hundred  acres  of  land,  dying  September  4, 1684.  The 
Samuel  Bennett  (died  1745)  who  is  the  subje6l  of  this 
Note  was  a  carpenter,  living  in  East  Greenwich  and 
Coventry.  He  had  three  daughters  by  his  first  wife,  all 
a  few  years  younger  than  Samuel  Stafford, but  the  name 
of  the  one  he  married  does  not  now  appear.  Samuel 
Bennett  bore  the  title  of  lieutenant. 

777  ^^John  Smith.'' 

"John  Smith  the  Miller"(born  1595, died  about  1648) 
first  settled  at  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  and  came 
thence  to  Providence  with  Roger  Williams  and  four 
others  in  the  spring  or  summer  of  1636,  and  made  the 
first  settlement  of  white  persons  in  this  territory.  Roger 
Williams  made  a  declaration  (November  17,  1677) 
that,  "I  consented  to  John  Smith,  Miller,  at  Dorches- 
ter (banished  also)  to  go  with  me."  Smith's  name  ap- 
pears upon  the  "revised  list  [preserved  in  the  clerk's 
office  of  the  city  of  Providence]  of  lands  and  mea- 
dows as  they  were  originally  lotted  from  the  beginning 
of  the  plantation  of  Providence  in  the  Narragansett  Bay 
in  New  England,  unto  the  (then)  inhabitants  of  the  said 
plantation."  (Colonial  Records  of  Rhode  Island,  i.  24.) 
John  Smith  was  also  among  "our  loving  and  well-be- 
trusted  friends  and  neighbours,"  to  whom,  as  a  committee 
of  ten,  the  town  of  Providence,  in  1647,  entrusted  its 
share  of  the  work  of  organizing  a  government  for  the 
colony.  (Zr/,,  i.  42.)  In  or  about  the  same  year  he  had 
laid  out  to  him  "ten  acres  where  mill  now  standeth. . . . 


396  Notes 

Part  of  the  land  was  granted  to  him  as  purchaser  and 
part  for  building  a  mill."  This  mill  was  situated  upon 
the  Moshassuck  River,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town 
of  Providence. 

If  the  tradition  that  Thomas  Stafford  built  John 
Smith's  mill  be  authentic,  the  work  would  appear  to 
have  been  done  in  the  interval  between  the  spring  of 
1647,  when  he  seems  to  have  been  still  living  at  New- 
port, and  the  date  of  his  permanent  settlement  at  War- 
wick in  or  before  1652. 

778    '■'■Randall  Holden.'" 

Mr.  Holden  (born  161 2;  died  August  23,  1692)  came 
from  Salisbury,  Wiltshire,  England,  by  or  before  1637. 
In  March  of  that  year,  together  with  Roger  Williams, 
he  was  a  witness  to  the  deed  of  the  island  of  Aquid- 
neck,  from  Canonicus  and  Miantonomi  to  Coddington. 
One  year  later  he  is  found  at  Portsmouth,  Rhode  Is- 
land, as  one  of  the  nineteen  signers  of  the  Compa6t. 
In  January,  1643,  ^^  joined  with  ten  others  at  War- 
wick in  buying  from  Miantonomi  the  tra6t  of  land 
known  as  Shawomet.  In  September  of  the  same  year 
Mr.  Holden  and  others  of  the  Warwick  settlers  were 
notified  to  appear  at  the  General  Court  at  Boston,  and 
soon  after  carried  thither  by  force,  being  charged  with  he- 
resy and  sedition.  After  being  imprisoned  several  months 
at  Salem,  he  was  released, but  banished  both  from  Massa- 
chusetts and  Warwick,  and  proceeded  to  England,  in 
company  with  Samuel  Gorton  and  John  Greene,  where 
they  obtained  the  desired  vindication  of  the  rights  of 
Warwick  settlers.  After  his  return  to  Rhode  Island,  Mr. 
Holden  held  several  important  offices,  such  as  town 
treasurer,  deputy,  and  assistant.  In  1654, he  was  one  of 
the  purchasers  of  Potowomut  from  an  Indian  sachem. 
In  a  declaration  to  the  King  in  1678,  in  answer  to  a 
petition  of  Richard  Smith,  concerning  the  Narragan- 
sett  country,  he  called  himself  Randall  Howldon.  He 
was  commonly  known  as  Captain  Holden,  and  in  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  he  was  made  justice  of  the  court 
of  common  pleas. 


Notes  397 

779  '■'■Samuel  Stafford." 

The  statement  that  Samuel  Stafford,  who  married  Mercy 
Westcott  and  died  in  1718,  succeeded  to  the  estate  of 
his  father,  the  original  Thomas  Stafford,  seems  to  be  an 
error.  Thomas  Stafford's  eldest  son  was  also  named 
Thomas,  and  to  him  was  given,  by  his  father's  will 
(proved  April  27,  i678),half  of  the  homestead  at  once, 
with  the  other  half  after  his  mother's  death.  To  each  of 
the  other  two  was  given  "a  calf,"  they  having,  however, 
probably  received  outlying  land  previously.  Samuel 
Stafford  (born  1636)  was  many  times,  between  1670 
and  1705,  a  deputy  to  the  General  Assembly. 

780  '■'■'Thomas  inherited  the  homestead" 

Thomas  Stafford,  3rd  (born  1682;  died  November  18, 
1765),  married,  first,  Anne  Greene,  by  whom  he  had 
six  children,  and,  second,  Audrey  Greene,  by  whom 
he  had  eight  more.  He  inherited  from  his  father  all  his 
lands  in  Potowomut.  He  bore  the  title  of  captain  and 
was  repeatedly  a  deputy  to  the  Assembly,  the  last  time 
(in  1747)  representing  the  town  of  Coventry. 

781  '■''  Amos  fixed  his  residence  about  half  a  mile  north- 
west." 

Amos  Stafford  (born  November  8,  1665;  died  1760) 
inherited  from  his  father  all  right  in  land,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Potowomut  River,  in  Kings  Town.  He  was 
for  several  years  a  deputy  in  the  General  Assembly, 
and  is  recorded  as  a  contributor  towards  the  building 
of  the  Quaker  meeting-house  at  Mashapaug.  As  to  the 
statement  that  Amos  Stafford  had  thirteen  children,  it 
is  to  be  noted  that  Austin  {Genealogical  DiSfionary  of 
Rhode  Island^  p.  387)  enumerates  only  seven. 

782  ^^ Samuel  Gorton." 

A  sketch  of  Gorton  will  be  found  in  this  work  (Vol.  i. 
pp.  74-6).  Concerning  the  nature  of  the  accusations 
brought  against  him  and  his  associates,  it  is  difficult  to 
reach  an  adequate  conclusion.  On  September  12,1643, 
he,  with  John  Greene,  Randall  Holden,  Richard  Carder, 


398  Notes 

Richard  Waterman,  and  perhaps  others  of  the  eleven 
original  purchasers  of  Shawomet  in  the  previous  year, 
were  summoned  to  appear  before  the  General  Court 
at  Boston  (then  claiming  jurisdi61;ion  in  Warwick),  to 
answer  to  certain  charges  of  unjust  and  injurious  deal- 
ing, brought  by  two  Indian  sachems,  Pomham  and  Soc- 
conocco.  The  Warwick  men,  denying  the  authority 
over  them  of  the  Massachusetts  magistrates,  were  be- 
sieged by  soldiers  in  a  fortified  house,  and  informed,  in 
a  parley,  "that  they  held  blasphemous  errors,  which 
they  must  repent  of,"  or  go  to  Boston  for  trial.  Hav- 
ing soon  afterwards  been  carried  thither  and  brought 
before  the  Court,  they  were  charged  with  heresy  and 
sedition  and  sentenced  to  be  confined  during  the  plea- 
sure of  the  Court,  on  pain  of  death  should  they  break 
jail  or  preach  their  heresies  or  speak  against  Church  or 
State.  Holden  was  imprisoned  in  Salem,  Carder  in  Rox- 
bury,  and  Gorton  in  Charlestown.  In  the  following 
year,  however,  they  were  all  released,  with  a  sentence 
of  banishment  from  Massachusetts  and  Warwick.  A 
somewhat  curious  light  is  thrown  upon  the  kind  of 
opinions  for  which  incarceration  for  months  was  not, 
in  that  age,  thought  too  severe  a  penalty,  in  a  manu- 
script letter  of  John  Eliot,  the  famous  Apostle  of  the 
Indians,  addressed  to  "  Richard  "  only,  and  preserved  in 
the  cabinet  of  the  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society.  The 
fails  that  this  letter  was  presented  to  the  Society  by  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Richard  Carder,  that  Eliot  was 
pastor  of  the  Roxbury  church  during  Carder's  imprison- 
ment there,  that  the  letter  was  written  a  few  months 
after  its  close,  and  that  it  is  plainly  addressed  to  one 
under  the  imputation  of  heresy,  almost  prove  that  that 
"  Richard  "  was  Richard  Carder,  who  had  previously 
addressed  Mr.  Eliot  upon  the  subje£l,  as  if  in  contin- 
uation of  a  former  verbal  discussion  while  at  Roxbury. 
Eliot's  well-known  evangelical  sweetness  of  temper  had 
probably  led  him  to  visit  Carder  in  his  prison,  it  not  be- 
ing unlikely  also  that  they  had  formerly  met  during  the 
latter's  residence  in  Boston  previously  to  settling  in 
Rhode  Island.  Although  the  "Apostle"  did  not  con- 


Notes  399 

ceal  his  detestation  of  his  correspondent's  heresy,  ap- 
parently with  good  reason, yet  his  gentle  spirit  towards 
the  offender  himself,  about  a  dozen  years  his  junior, 
did  not  fail  to  be  here  exhibited,  as,  for  example,  in  the 
passage  where  he  exclaims:  "O:  Richard  take  heade  of 
that  dredefull  gentance:  2.  thesa:  2-1 1 :  god  shall  send 
them  stroung  delusions  thatt  they  should  beleue  a  ly 
for  thes  things  are  flatly  contrary  to  the  truth  of  scrip- 
turs." 

The  central  startling  proposition  of  Carder  seems  to 
have  been  that  "  the  saints  have  the  same  excellency 
of  being  that  the  son  of  god  hath, .  .  .  that  we  [they] 
are  eternally  generated  with  the  sonof  god^'' — not  simply 
being  converted  in  Christ  and  having  their  being  in  him. 
The  whole  letter  may  be  found  in  the  Publications  of 
the  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society  (New  Series),  Vol.  vi. 
No.  2  (July,  1898),  pp.  1 10-17.  It  may  be  that  Richard 
Carder  derived  some  of  his  strange  theories  from  Anne 
Hutchinson,  with  whom  he  was  associated  in  Boston 
and  perhaps  later  in  Portsmouth,  Rhode  Island.  It  is 
more  likely,  however,  that  he  merely  shared  the  fantastic 
opinions  of  his  companion,  Samuel  Gorton. 

783    "Richard  Green.'' 

Richard  Greene  was  a  great-grandson  of  "John  Greene, 
surgeon,"  the  progenitor  of  the  Warwick  Greenes,  and 
was  born  at  "Stone  Castle,"  April  19,  1702.  In  the 
division  of  his  father's  estate,  he  received  "y^  home- 
stead and  all  y*"  land  within  the  four  miles  common  and 
the  Land  in  Warwick  Neck."  He  died  December  28, 
1778,  and  was  buried  at  his  ancestral  house,  "Stone 
Castle."  His  wife,  whose  baptism  is  recorded  in  the  text, 
was  married  to  him  by  the  Rev.  James  Honyman,  of 
Trinity  Church,  Newport,  on  June  7,  1727,  and  was 
a  daughter  of  Captain  John  and  Elizabeth  (Carr)  God- 
frey, of  that  town,  and  a  granddaughter  of  Governor 
Caleb  Carr.  She  was  born  May  21,  1709,  and  died  No- 
vember 30,  1789.  Mrs.  Greene  is  alluded  to  in  family 
correspondence  as  a  woman  of  remarkable  piety,  and  her 
daughter  Elizabeth,  who  died  unmarried  and  whose  bap- 


400  Notes 

tism,  by  Dr.  MacSparran,  is  also  noted  in  the  text,  is 
spoken  of  as  "an  honourable  pious  woman  of  the  same 
society  as  her  mother."  {The  Greenes  of  Rhode  Island^ 

P-  I43-) 

784  "Jeremiah  Lippet.'' 

Jeremiah  Lippitt  and  his  wife,  Welthan  (or  Welthyan) 
Greene,  are  noticed  on  pages  119-20  of  this  volume. 
Dr.  MacSparran,  in  his  Diary ^  mentions  repeatedly  vis- 
iting at  Jeremiah  Lippitt's,  at  Old  Warwick,  in  1745 
and  1751,  referring  in  one  case  to  "his  Mo"^  in  Law 
Howland,"  with  the  implication  that  he  had  been  mar- 
ried previously  to  his  marriage  to  Welthan  Greene,  al- 
though that  event  occurred  when  he  was  only  about 
twenty-three  years  of  age.  Jeremiah  was  given,  in  the 
will  of  his  father,  Moses  (proved  January  24,  1 745), "  a 
lot  in  Horse  Neck  and  half  of  warehouse  and  lot  in 
Warwick,  near  the  wharf."  Mrs.  Jeremiah  Lippitt  was 
born  at" Stone  Castle,"  February  19, 17 14-15,  and  died 
July  15,  1797. 

785  "Thomas  Greene." 

Thomas  Greene  (son  of  the  original  settler  in  War- 
wick, "John  Greene,  surgeon")  was  born  and  baptized 
at  Salisbury,  Wiltshire,  England,  June  4,  1628,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  New  England  in  1635.  He 
married,  June  30,  1659,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Rufus 
and  Margaret  Barton,  of  Old  Warwick.  One  year  later 
Mr.  Greene  purchased  of  his  sister  Mary's  husband, 
James  Sweet,  a  stone  house  at  Old  Warwick,  which 
had  been  built  at  the  earliest  settlement  of  the  town, 
situated  on  the  north  side  of  "The  Street,"  afterwards 
called  "  Greene's  Stone  Castle."  Here  Thomas  Greene 
and  his  posterity  lived  until  1795,  when  the  house  was 
replaced  by  a  wooden  structure.  During  King  Philip's 
War,  March  13, 1675-6,  the  General  Assembly,  in  ses- 
sion at  Newport,  sent  a  message  to  the  people  of  War- 
wick, advising  them  to  seek  safety  on  the  island  of 
Rhode  Island.  Many  accordingly  removed  thither,  and 
on  the  nights  of  March  i6th  and  17th  every  house  in 
Warwick  was  burned, "except  the  Stone  Castle,"  where 


Notes  401 

Mr.  Greene,  his  wife,  and  six  children,  with  a  few  friends 
and  neighbours,  remained  in  safety.  Thomas  Greene 
was  commissioner  in  1 662, deputy  forten  years, between 
1667  and  1684,  and  assistant  for  five  years,  between 
1678  and  1685.  He  died  June  5,  1717,  and  lies  buried, 
with  five  generations  of  his  descendants,  near  the  origi- 
nal site  of  the  "Castle."  He  left  the  homestead  to  his 
son  Richard,  the  father  of  Richard'"  and  Welthan.''" 

786    '■^Deputy  Governor  John  Greened 

Major, or  Deputy  Governor,  John  Greene, "of  Occu- 
pasuetuxet,"  eldest  son  of  "John  Greene,  surgeon,"  the 
progenitoroftheWarwick  Greenes,  was,  like  hisyounger 
brother  Thomas,  of  the  preceding  Note,  born  at  Salis- 
bury, Wiltshire,  England,  and  baptized  there  August  15, 
1620.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  New  England  in 
1635, and  married,about  1648,  Anne,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Audrey  Almy,  of  Portsmouth,  Rhode  Island. 
Major  John  inherited  from  his  father,  by  his  will  (proved 
January  7,  1659),  "that  neck  of  land  called  Occu- 
pasuetuxet  and  all  meadows  that  belong  thereto  with  a 
little  island  adjoining,  all  of  which  was  purchased  of 
Miantonomi  on  06t.  i,  1642."  This  estate  was  then 
known  as  "Greene's  Hold  (or  Hole)."  It  remained  in 
the  possession  of  the  family  for  one  hundred  and  forty 
years,  until  06tober  6,  1782,  when  it  was  sold  by  the 
grandchildren  of  Major  John  Greene  to  John  Brown, 
of  Providence. 

After  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Warwick,  John 
was  almost  continuously  in  public  affairs.  It  was  written 
concerning  him,  at  a  later  period, "  He  was  a  man  of 
great  weight  of  thought,  sharpness  of  wit,  aptness  of 
a6tion  and  adroitness  of  understanding."  In  early  life 
he  was  town  clerk  and  surveyor.  On  several  occasions 
he  was  sent  as  colonial  agent  to  England.  For  twelve 
years  he  served  as  a  representative  to  the  General  Court. 
For  five  years  he  was  a  deputy  and  an  assistant  for 
twenty-five.  From  1657  to  1660,  he  held  the  office  of 
attorney-general  and  that  of  deputy  governor  for  eleven 
years  continuously,  from  1690  to  1 700.  For  eight  years 


402  Notes 

he  was  captain  of  the  militia  and  for  seven  years  "  Major 
for  the  Main,"  commanding  all  the  trained  hands  on  the 
mainland,  in  Rhode  Island.  Governor  Greene  died  in 
Warwick,  November  27,  1708,  and  was  buried  on  his 
estate,  in  the  eastern  part,  now  called  "Spring  Green." 
He  had  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  eight  appear  to 
have  survived  him,  his  four  sons  receiving  from  him 
large  landed  estates.  (The  Greenes  of  Rhode  Island^  pp. 
58-62.) 

787  "//^  had  a  son^  Thomas T 

Thomas  Greene,"  of  Stone  Castle,"  son  of  Richard  and 
great-great-grandson  of  "John  Greene,  surgeon,"  the 
original  settler,  was  born  06lober  11, 1 729.  He  owned 
the  old  stone  garrison  house,  in  which  his  ancestors  had 
lived  for  three  generations,  but  himself  occupied  a  cot- 
tage on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road.  He  was  a  land- 
holder and  shipmaster,trading  in  the  Mediterranean  and 
theWestlndies.Thomas  Greene  married, first, in  1762, 
Mary  Low,  of  Old  Warwick,  and,  second,  January  21, 
1768,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Margaret  (Bar- 
ton) Wickes,  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Mr. 
Greene  died  November  14,  1813,  having  had  eleven 
children.  {The  Greenes  of  Rhode  Island^^^.  237,  238.) 

788  ^'' The  present:  Judge  Thomas  Wickes  Greene.'^ 
Thomas  Wickes  Greene, eldest  son  of  Thomas  Greene, 
the  subjedl  of  the  last  Note,  was  born  at  Warwick, 
August  13,  1769,  inheriting  from  his  father  the  old 
"Stone  Castle,"  with  the  adjoining  land.  When  he  was 
about  twenty-five  years  of  age,  he  demolished  the  an- 
cient stru6lure  and  built  a  new  one  near  its  site.  He 
was  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  and  was  highly 
respedied  by  his  fellow-citizens.  August  22, 1 790,  Judge 
Greene  married  Barbara,  daughter  of  Colonel  John 
Low,  by  whom  he  had  five  children.  He  died  on  War- 
wick Neck,  Odober  17,  1854. 

Dr.  Rowland  Greene,  physician,  a  younger  brother 
of  Judge  Greene,  was  a  noted  Quaker  preacher  of  Cran- 
ston, Rhode  Island,  universally  loved  and  respe6led. 
{The  Greenes  of  Rhode  Island^  pp.  385,  386.) 


Notes  403 

789  ^^ Elizabeth  Godfrey ^  of  Newport.'' 

Mrs.  Greene  is  noticed,  along  with  her  husband,  Rich- 
ard, in  Note  783. 

Captain  John  Godfrey,  the  grandfather  of  Elizabeth, 
and  the  first  of  the  name  in  Rhode  Island,  was  a  mari- 
ner,livingin  Newport  as  early  as  1676.  On  August  25th 
of  that  year  he  testified  at  a  court  martial  held  in  that 
town.  In  1689,  he  was  given  command  of  a  vessel  fitted 
out  from  Newport,  for  the  pursuit  of  French  privateers, 
which  had  plundered  Block  Island.  Four  years  later  a 
craft  of  which  Captain  Godfrey  was  master  was  seized 
by  a  privateer  of  France. 

Governor  Caleb  Carr,  Mrs.  Richard  Greene's  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  embarked  in  ship  Eli%aheth  and  Ann ^ 
at  London,  in  1635,  at  the  age  of  eleven,  and  came  to 
America  with  his  older  brother,  Robert,  settling  at  New- 
port. After  holding  many  offices  and  acquiring  much 
land,  he  was  appointed  justice  of  General  Quarter  Ses- 
sion in  1687  and  ele6led  governor  in  1695,  being 
drowned  while  holding  that  office. 

790  '■'■John  Smithy  who  was  President  of  the  Colony" 
"John  Smith,  of  Warwick,"  said  to  be  the  builder  of 
"Stone  Castle,"  removed  from  Boston  to  Warwick  in 
1648,  being  apparently  a  shopkeeper  at  both  places. 
He  was  chosen  "President  of  the  four  towns  compris- 
ing the  Colony"  in  1649, and  "  President  of  Providence 
and  Warwick"  in  1652.  He  died  in  July,  1663,  and 
left  a  handsome  personal  estate,  together  with  "  dwell- 
ing-house, j/^w^/^oz/j^,  orchards,  corn  land,  &c."  His  wife, 
Ann  (Collins),  was  a  widow  before  his  marriage  to  her, 
and,  with  her  son,  Elizur  Collins,  inherited  the  whole 
of  his  estate. 

791  '■^'Thomas  Greene  ^  the  brother  of  the  first  Richard 
above  mentioned.'' 

Thomas  Greene  was  the  eldest  son  of  "Thomas 
Greene  ^^'  of  Stone  Castle,"  and  was  born  at  Warwick, 
August  14,  1662.  On  account  of  owning  a  large  farm 
on  Potowomut   Neck,  he  was  known   as  "Thomas 


404  Notes 

Greene  of  Potowomut."  He  married,  May  27, 1686, his 
first  cousin,  Anne  (daughter  of  his  uncle.  Deputy  Gov- 
ernor John  Greene), called  in  the  ancient  record  "Anne 
Greene, y^younger,"  to  distinguish  her  from  her  mother, 
who  bore  the  same  Christian  name.  Mr.  Greene  lived 
to  be  but  thirty-six  years  of  age,  being  drowned  in  the 
winter  of  1698-9  in  going  from  Newport  to  Potowo- 
mut. He  had  seven  children,  all  of  whom  seem  to  have 
survived  him. 

79a    ^^John^  who  succeeded  to  his  father^ s  estate,  at  Fo- 
towomut'' 

John  Greene,  the  only  son  of  Thomas,  of  the  last  Note, 
was  born  atWarwick,  April  14,1691.  He  married, first, 
December  6,1711,  Deborah  Carr,  of  Jamestown,  grand- 
daughter of  Governor  Caleb  Carr  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  Roger  Williams,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children.  John  Greene  married,  second,  January  28, 
1730,  his  second  cousin,  Almy,  daughter  of  Richard 
Greene,  of  Occupasuetuxet,  having  by  her  three  chil- 
dren. He  died  December  8,  1757. 

793  ^^ Sarah  Fry." 

Sarah  Fry  was  a  granddaughter  of  Captain  Samuel 
Greene,  of  Apponaug,  her  mother  being  Mary  Greene, 
a  second  cousin  of  John  Greene,  the  father  of  Richard, 
her  husband.  Sarah  (Fry)  Greene's  paternal  grandfather 
was  Deputy  Governor  Thomas  Fry,  who  occupied  that 
office  from  August,  1727,  to  May,  1729.  The  interest- 
ing old  residence  of  Richard  and  Sarah  Greene  was  that 
lately  (1907)  occupied  by  Mr.  Moses  B.  I.  Goddard, 
at  Potowomut,  of  which  a  view  is  given  in  this  work. 

794  '■'■Mrs.  Le  Baron." 

Mrs.  Le  Baron  was  a  granddaughter  of  Richard  Greene, 
of  Potowomut,  being  the  elder  daughter,  Lydia,  of  Sam- 
uel and  Mary  (Greene)  Brown.  She  married  James  Le 
Baron,  of  Bristol,  Rhode  Island,  as  his  second  wife,  and 
lived  in  the  house  of  her  mother,  on  Main  Street,  op- 
posite the  Updike  house,  in  East  Greenwich,  Rhode  Is- 
land. Mr.  Le  Baron's  former  residence, in  Bristol,  was  at 


Notes  405 

the  foot  of  Church  Street,  and  was  built  by  him  about  the 
time  of  his  former  marriage.  He  was  then  a  merchant, 
trading  with  the  West  Indies,  and  his  stone  warehouse 
adjoins  the  mansion.  The  establishment  is  now  a  pri- 
vate hotel,  known  as  the  Church  Street  House.  James 
Le  Baron  was  a  dire6t  descendant  of  Francis  Le  Baron, 
a  French  physician,  of  Ply  mouth,  Adassachusetts, called, 
in  the  title  of  the  novel  of  his  descendant,  Mrs.  Jane 
Austin,  j4  Nameless  Nobleman. 

795    "Reached  here  with  his  wife  and  five  children  in 
1630." 

This  date  anticipates,  by  several  years,  the  arrival  of 
"John  Greene,  surgeon,"  in  America.  The  parish  regis- 
ter of  St.  Thomas's  Church,  in  the  city  of  Salisbury, 
England,  records  the  marriage,  November  4,  1619,  of 
John  Greene  and  Joanne  Tatarsole  (or  Tattershall)  and 
the  baptisms  of  their  seven  children,  the  last  one  being 
on  May  19,1633.  April  6, 1635,  Dr.  Greene  was  regis- 
tered for  embarkation  at  Hampton,  England,  with  his 
wife  and  six  children  (one  having  probably  died  in  Eng- 
land before  this  date),  in  the  ship  "James ^  of  two  hundred 
tons,  for  New  England.  After  a  voyage  of  fifty-eight 
days,  they  arrived  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  June  3, 
1635,  and  settled  first  at  Salem,  where  they  were  asso- 
ciated with  Roger  Williams.  Soon  after  Williams's  flight 
to  Rhode  Island,John  Greene  joined  him  in  Providence, 
and  was  one  of  eleven  men  baptized  by  him  there  and  one 
of  the  twelve  first  members  of  the  first  Baptist  church  in 
America,  organized  in  that  town.  He  was  also  the  first 
physician  in  Providence.  Soon  his  wife,  Joanne,  the 
mother  of  all  his  children,  died,  and  he  married  Ailsce 
(Alice)  Daniels,  a  widow.  In  1 642,  Dr.  Greene  bought 
of  the  Indian  sachem,  Miantonomi,  land  in  Warwick, 
called  Occupasuetuxet,  and  shortly  removed  thither, 
where  his  second  wife  died  in  the  following  year,  from 
fright  and  exposure,  caused  by  forty  armed  men  sent 
from  Boston  to  arrest  the  Shawomet  pioneers. '^^^  While 
John  Greene  was  in  England,  about  1644, he  was  again 
married,  his  wife's  Christian  name  being  Phillippa  (al- 


4o6  Notes 

ways  written  Phillip),  the  name  being  perpetuated  in 
the  Greene  family,  although  Mrs.  Greene  herself  ap- 
pears to  have  had  no  descendants.  She  survived  her  hus- 
band nearly  thirty  years,  dying  in  1687.  (The  Greenes 
of  Rhode  Island^  pp.  55-58.) 

796  "Awkley  Halir 

The  Greene  family,  to  which  John  Greene  belonged, 
is  represented,  in  The  Greenes  of  Rhode  Island  (p.  31), 
as  living  at  Bowridge  Hill,  Gillingham,  Dorset,  Eng- 
land. Awkley  Hall  does  not  appear  to  be  mentioned. 

797  ^^ 'Two  thousand  acres." 

Mrs.  Le  Baron  was  quite  justified,  as  she  goes  on  to  re- 
mark, in  not  believing  the  number  of  acres  in  her  grand- 
father's Potowomut  estate  to  have  been  so  great  as  two 
thousand.  The  whole  acreage  of  Potowomut  is  gener- 
ally estimated  at  about  twelve  hundred.  At  that  period 
Dr.  James  Greene,  "of  Potowomut,"  and  his  son  Paul, 
also  "of  Potowomut,"  belonging  to  the  James  and  Ja- 
bez  line  of  the  Greene  family,  were  living  and  were 
holders  of  extensive  portions  of  the  Neck.  Mr.  Moses 
B.  I.  Goddard,  the  late  owner  of  the  Richard  Greene 
estate,  declared,  "  I  do  not  think  the  whole  farm  at  that 
time  [the  date  of  the  sale]  contained  over  800  acres." 
Mrs.  Ives  purchased  additional  land  of  the  Greenes,  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  Neck,  about  1798  to  1803. 

798  ''Judge  Lightfoot." 

Judge  Lightfoot  is  mentioned,towardthe  close  of  Chap- 
ter VHI  of  this  work,  among  the  favourite  guests  of  the 
oldNarragansett  families,  and  is  the  subjeft  of  Note  390 
in  conne6lion  with  the  passage.  It  is  related,  in  an  an- 
cient manuscript  of  reminiscences ^ihzt  once,  when  Judge 
Lightfoot  was  staying  at  "  King  Richard  Greene's,"  at 
Potowomut,  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  the  British 
landed  and  paid  a  visit  to  the  house.  The  Judge,  being 
somewhat  the  reverse  of  brave,  was  so  alarmed  that  he 
locked  himself  into  a  closet  and  remained  there  until 
the  "enemy  "  retired,  it  not  being  long,  as  Richard  him- 
self was  rather  friendly  than  otherwise  with  the  "  red- 


Notes  407 

coats."  Upon  the  emergence  of  the  Judge  from  his  con- 
cealment, some  one,  unaware  that  he  had  not  remained 
out  in  his  room, exclaimed,"  Why,  Judge,  I  wonder  they 
had  not  seen  you."  "They  could  not  see  through  an 
inch  board"  rejoined  his  Honour,  with  an  oath. 

'■^'The  Browns  of  Providence^ 
This, no  doubt,  refers  to  "the  four  brothers,"  Nicholas, 
Joseph,  John,  and  Moses,  or  to  the  first  and  the  last, 
they  all  being,  during  the  Revolutionary  period,  mature 
men,  somewhat  the  juniors  of  "  King  Richard."  It  is 
interesting  to  note  in  this  conne6iion  that  a  few  years 
later,  September  15,  1792,  the  executors  of  Richard 
Greene,  of  Potowomut,  sold  by  au6lion  his  estate  in 
the  Neck  to  Moses  Brown,  the  executor  of  the  will  of 
Nicholas  Brown, as  a  marriage  gift  to  his  daughter  Hope, 
who  had  become  the  wife  of  Thomas  P.  Ives,  March  1 6, 
1792.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  the  visits  of  the  Browns 
to  their  friend,  Richard  Greene,  referred  to  in  the  text, 
were  the  means  of  acquainting  them  with  the  pleasant- 
ness and  value  of  Potowomut  and  of  thus  opening  the 
way  to  the  above  purchase.  (77?^  Greenes  of  Rhode  Island^ 
pp.  90, 91.)  Moses  Brown  was  not  only  executor  of  the 
will  of  his  brother  Nicholas,  but  guardian  of  his  daugh- 
ter, a  minor  at  the  time  of  her  father's  death.  May  29, 
1 79 1,  and  doubtless  made  the  purchase  with  a  know- 
ledge of  his  brother's  wishes  and  purposes.  The  first  pay- 
ment, as  "earnest  money,"  to  Valentine  Whitman, was 
$1 1, 575. The  time  of  the  ere6tion  of  the  elegant  colo- 
nial house, on  the  estate  now  called  "Hopelands,"is  not 
known.  Part  of  the  west  wing  was  built  after  the  pur- 
chase, and  the  piazza  was  added  in  1801. 

''The  O'Harrasr 

It  is  well  known  that  the  Rev.  Joseph  O'Harra  was  the 
second  re£lor  of  King's  Church  (now  St.  John's),  Pro- 
vidence, for  a  portion  of  the  time  between  1726  and 
1729.  As  there  was,  in  the  eighteenth  century,  an  ex- 
ceptional degree  of  reciprocity  between  Charleston  and 
other  parts  of  South  Carolina,  on  the  one  hand,  and 
Rhode  Island,  on  the  other,  it  is  not  unlikely  that  the 


4o8  Notes 

reverend  gentleman  belonged  to  the  Southern  family 
which  later  visited  at "  King  Richard's  "  and  w^hose  mem- 
bers Mrs.  Le  Baron  saw  during  her  stay  in  the  South. 

8oi    ^'^Dr.  William  Bowen,  of  Providence T 

Dr.  William  Bowen  and  his  brother,  Dr.  Pardon  Bowen, 
were  leading  physicians  in  Providence  at  the  end  of  the 
eighteenth  century  and  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth. 
The  former  was  familiarly  called  "Dr.  Billy  Bowen." 
Many  of  the  descendants  of  the  family  have  since  been 
among  the  leading  people  of  Providence  and  of  the  State. 
The  intention  of  Dr.  Bowen  to  remain  in  Newport 
during  Mr.  Greene's  stay  (he  being  at  the  time  pre- 
sumably a  busy  pra61:ising  physician),  implies  only  a  short 
proposed  tarry  and  hardly  tallies  with  Mrs.  Le  Baron's 
doubt  as  to  whether  they  might  not  have  gone  thither 
in  1778,  many  months  before  the  death  of  her  grand- 
father. It  is  probable,  however,  that  at  first  she  did  not 
recall  the  year,  but  did  so  later,  when  she  came  to  speak 
of  the  exa6t  date  of  Mr.  Greene's  decease.  His  will 
was  dated  February  18,  1779.  Cicuta^  it  is  somewhat 
curious  to  note,  is  the  deadly  poisonous  water-hemlock, 
supposed  to  be  the  koneion  of  the  Greeks,  which  Socrates 
when  condemned  to  death,  was  compelled  to  drink. 

802  "T'/2^  \()th  of  July  ^  ^119-' 

As  a  matter  of  accuracy,  it  may  be  remarked  that  The 
Greenes  of  Rhode  hlayid  (p.  235)  states  that  this  event 
occurred  fune  19, 1779.  No  other  means  seem  to  be  at 
hand  to  determine  the  date,  which  happily  is  of  quite 
minor  importance. 

803  '■'■The  Six-Principle  Baptist  Church." 

The  distinftive  tenet  of  this  body  is  the  prailice  of  the 
laying  on  of  hands  as  a  prerequisite  for  church  member- 
ship and  admission  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  accordance 
with  Hebrews  vi.  i,  2,  the  other ^^'^" principles  of  the 
doctrine  of  Christ,"  mentioned  in  the  passage,  being,  of 
course,  accepted  by  all  Baptists.  It  appears  that  before 
any  separation  occurred  many  of  the  members  of  the 
earlier  churches,  in  both  Providence  and  Newport,  were 


Notes  409 

inclined  to  a  belief  in  the  necessity  of  the  laying  on  of 
hands.  As  early  as  1653-4,  a  controversy  upon  this  sub- 
ject arose  in  the  Providence  church,  leading  to  a  divi- 
sion. In  Newport  a  similar  division  took  place  in  1656. 
In  the  first  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  century,  so  over- 
shadowing was  the  relative  importance  of  those  Bap- 
tists holding  "Six-Principle"  convictions,  ^/'/V^^^«  out 
of  the  seventeen  Baptist  churches  in  New  England  being 
of  that  way  of  thinking,  that  their  influence  appeared 
destined  to  shape  Baptist  opinion  throughout  the  whole 
territory.  The  Warwick  church,  alluded  to  in  the  text, 
is  known  to  have  been  in  existence  as  early  as  1730, 
with  sixty-five  members, under  the  pastoral  care  of  Ma- 
nasseh  Martin,  whose  assistant  Mr.  Hammett  became. 
Its  earliest  records  go  back  to  1741. 

804  "  Thomas  Wricks." 

Dr.  MacSparran,  in  his  Diary ^  under  the  date  of  No- 
vember 10, 1 75 1, records, "I  did  not  go  to  ch**, but  read 
Prayers  at  Home,  and  published  Tom  Weeks  &  Ruth 
Browne  y^  2'' time."  Thomas  Wickes's  sister  Elizabeth 
became  the  wife  of  Judge  Philip  Greene,  of  Occupasue- 
tuxet,  where  Thomas  is  said  to  have  frequently  joined 
the  genial  company  of  guests  sure  to  be  gathered  there. 
Judge  Greene's  son,  the  distinguished  Colonel  Chris- 
topher, was  thus  a  nephew  of  Thomas  Wickes. 

805  '■^ Ruthy  his  wife." 

Mrs.  Wickes  was  a  daughter  of  William  Brown  (or 
Browne),  of  Boston  Neck,  South  Kingstown,  now  be- 
lieved to  have  been  a  son  of  Jeremiah  Brown,  of  New- 
port,and  agrandson  of  Chad  Brown,  of  Providence.  The 
statement  above,  in  this  work,  that  the  family  of  Wil- 
liam Browne  emigrated  from  Glasgow,  Scotland,  and 
settled  in  Narragansett,  is  supposed  (but  not  confi- 
dently) to  be  anerror.^^'^Her  mother  was  Elizabeth  Rob- 
inson, a  sister  of  Deputy  Governor  William  Robinson. 
Ruth  Brown  was  born  September  25, 1715.  Under  date 
of  Monday,  September  30,  1745,  Dr.  MacSparran 
notes,  "Miss  Browne  and  Miss  Ruth  Browne  dined 
here."  William   Browne  appears  to  have  attached  a 


4IO  Notes 

final  e  to  his  name,  a  custom  not  followed  by  other  mem- 
bers of  his  (supposed)  father's  family. 

806  ^^John  Wickes^  a  representative." 

This  John  Wickes,  grandson  of  John  WIckes,  the 
original  settler  of  the  name  in  Warwick,  was  born  Au- 
gust 8,  1677.  The  house  which  he  built  is  still  (1907) 
(or  has  very  lately  been)  standing,  although  condemned 
by  the  Warwick  town  council  as  unfit  for  habitation. 
It  was  raised  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  Randall  Hol- 
den,  the  second  of  that  name  in  Warwick, — that  is, 
September  13,  1726.  It  is  said  to  have  been  the  first 
Warwick  meeting  place  of  the  General  Assembly. 
After  the  death  of  John  Wickes  in  1742,  it  became 
the  property  of  his  son,  Thomas  Wickes.  From  Tho- 
mas it  descended  to  his  grandson  and  heir,  Wickes 
Gardiner,  and  afterwards  to  the  son  of  the  latter,  the 
late  Thomas  Wickes  Gardiner,  who,  with  his  family, 
has  occupied  it  until  within  a  ^^^  years.  It  stands  in 
Old  Warwick  at  the  western  corner  of  the  Warwick 
Neck  Road.  The  northwest  rooms,  on  the  first  and 
second  floor,  are  about  twenty  feet  square.  All  of  the 
rooms,  except  one  or  two  of  the  bedrooms,  have  large 
open  fireplaces,  and  there  are  almost  bricks  enough  in 
the  central  chimney  to  build  a  modern  good-sized  house. 
Quaint  old  Biblical  tiles  used  to  surround  the  fireplaces 
in  the  parlour  and  the  parlour  chamber,  until  removed 
by  the  Gardiner  family,  upon  its  vacating  the  premises, 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  years  since.  Some  of  them  are 
in  the  possession  of  Thomas  Wickes  Gardiner,  of  Pa w- 
tuxet,  and  others  in  that  of  his  sisters,  great-great-great- 
grandchildren of  the  original  builder  of  the  house.  A 
few  of  the  subjects  of  the  tiles  are  'Jonah  being  swal- 
lowed by  the  IVhale^  The  Return  of  the  Spies  from  Ca- 
naan^ Rebecca  at  the  IVell^  Pharaoh  crossing  the  Red 
Sea^  Samson  and  the  Lion.,  and  Moses  on  the  Mount, 

807  "John  Wickes^  one  of  the  first  settlers.'^ 

John  Wickes,  the  progenitor  of  the  family  in  Rhode 
Island,  was  born  in  1609,  and  thus,  although  Callender 
calls  him  "  a  very  ancient  man,"  could  have  been  but 


Notes  411 

sixty-six  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  came 
from  Staines,  Middlesex,  England,  and  embarked  at 
London,  in  ship  Hopewell^  with  his  wife  Mary  and  his 
infant  daughter  Ann,  in  September,  1635.  He  was 
in  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  in  1637,  and  appears  as 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Compa6l,  at  Portsmouth,  Rhode 
Island,  April  30,  1639.  John  Wickes  was  one  of  the 
eleven  purchasers  from  Miantonomi  of  the  tracSt  of 
landcalledShawomet(Warwick),January  I2,i643,and 
in  September  of  the  same  year  was  one  of  those  sum- 
moned to  appear'^^^  before  the  General  Court  at  Boston, 
and  was  imprisoned  for  heresy  and  sedition  at  Ipswich 
during  the  following  winter.  He  occupied  most  of  the 
local  offices,  from  town  magistrate  in  Warwick  to  de- 
puty and  assistant  in  the  Assembly.  His  calling  was 
that  of  a  tanner,  and  traces  of  his  tan  vats  are  still  visi- 
ble near  the  east  end  of  the  old  Lippitt  house,  at  Old 
Warwick. 

808  ''He  left  one  son,  John^ 

The  date  of  the  birth  of  the  second  John  Wickes  is  not 
known.  He  died  in  1 689.  His  wife.  Rose  Townsend,  was 
apparently  a  sister  of  Richard,  the  husband  of  his  sister, 
Elizabeth  Wickes,  whose  overseer,  at  Oyster  Bay,  New 
York,  he  went  thither  to  be,  in  167 1.  By  1675  he  had 
returned  to  Warwick,  being  made  a  freeman  by  the 
Assembly  in  that  year.  (Rhode  Island  Colonial  Records, 
ii.  527.) 

809  '''Rowland  Brown,  of  South  Kingstown." 

Mrs.  Caroline  E.  Robinson,  author  of  The  Hazard 
Family  of  Rhode  Island,  kindly  communicates  the  fol- 
lowing note:  "Mary  Wickes  married  Rowland  Brown, 
brother  of  Governor  George  Brown,  sons  of  Robert  and 
Sarah  (Franklin),  said  to  have  been  a  niece  or  grand-niece 
of  Benjamin  Franklin, her  father  being  Abel  Franklin,  of 
Newport  and  later  of  Kingstown."  The  South  Kings- 
town records  assign  four  children  to  Robert  and  Sarah 
Brown,  viz.,  George,  William,  John,  and  Franklin. 
George  was  born  January  10,  1745-6,  and  Franklin, 
May  25,  1750,  Mrs.  Brown  dying  six  days  after  the 


412  Notes 

birth  of  the  last  child.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife, 
Sarah  Franklin,  Robert  Brown  married  Sarah  Sherman. 
It  appears  more  probable  that  Rowland  was  her  son  than 
that  he  was  a  son  of  the  first  wife.  In  connedtion  with 
Robert  Brown's  first  marriage,  a  brief  passage  may  be 
quoted  from  Dr.  MacSparran's  Diary ^  under  the  date 
of  August  29,  1 745 :  "  Rob''  Browne  to  be  married, 
(y^y  say)  this  Day  to  Franklin's  Daughter." 

810  '■'■Fhilip  Greene.'' 

Judge  Philip  Greene,  "of  Occupasuetuxet,"  was  born 
at  the  old  "  Pastuxet"  home  of  his  ancestors,  March 
15,  1705.  He  married,  August  12,  1731,  Elizabeth 
Wickes,^""*  by  whom  he  had  nine  children.  Colonel 
Christopher  being  the  fourth.  Judge  Greene's  house  was 
long  the  centre  of  the  social  and  political  life  of  War- 
wick. "In  his  early  manhood,"  writes  Mr.  Rousman- 
iere,  in  his  Letters  from  the  Pawtuxet^  "his  figure  was 
noble  and  imposing,  his  voice  loud  but  pleasant,  and  his 
address  good-humoured  but  commanding.  At  the  head 
of  a  stormy  assemblage,  when  men  of  honest  hearts, 
but  weak  nerves,  would  falter  and  fail,  he  shone  pre- 
eminently; his  voice  rose  like  the  swell  of  an  organ, 
echoing  in  the  souls  of  the  most  timid  and  rousing  the 
brave  to  deeds  of  surpassing  valour."  Philip  Greene  was 
a  leading  man  in  all  town  affairs.  He  was  assistant  and 
deputy  in  the  General  Assembly,  and  judge  of  the  court 
of  common  pleas  for  twenty-five  years,  being  chief  jus- 
tice of  that  court  from  1776  to  1784.  Beside  his  land 
in  Old  Warwick,  he  owned  a  large  tra6l  extending  from 
the  forks  of  the  Pawtuxet,  including  a  portion  of  the 
present  village  of  River  Point,  for  some  distance  west- 
ward into  Coventry,  occupied  by  a  mill  and  farms.  After 
a  long  and  useful  career,  Judge  Greene  died  at  the  house 
of  his  birth,  April  10,  1 791,  aged  eighty-six  years.  {The 
Greenes  of  Rhode  Island^  104-108.) 

811  '■'■Major  John  S.  Dexter.'' 

The  name  of  John  S.  Dexter,  although  the  Dexters 
were  a  Providence  family,  is  found  among  the  petition- 
ers for  an  acSl  of  incorporation  of  the  Kentish  Guards,  in 


Notes  413 

East  Greenwich,  in  1 774.  In  1775,  John  Singer  Dex- 
ter was  appointed  a  lieutenant  in  Colonel  Varnum's 
regiment  of  the  "Army  of  Observation."  In  1776,  at 
the  time  of  the  raising  of  two  regiments  or  battalions 
in  Rhode  Island,  agreeably  to  the  requisition  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  Dexter  was  chosen  a  captain 
in  the  first.  After  the  death  of  Major  Flagg,  at  "Rhode 
Island  Village,"  NewYork,May  14,  i78i,John  Singer 
Dexter  succeeded  him  as  first  major.  (Cowell's  Spirit 
of 'yd  in  Rhode  Island^  p.  216.)  Daniel  Singer  Dexter 
was  a  brother  of  John,  and  probably  the  younger  of  the 
two.  In  1778,  he  was  adjutant  in  Colonel  Crary's  bat- 
talion. In  1 781,  at  the  February  session  of  the  Assem- 
bly, he  was  promoted  from  a  lieutenancy  in  Colonel 
Christopher  Greene's  regiment  to  the  office  of  a  "cap- 
tain-lieutenant," with  the  rank  of  captain,  and,  at  the 
August  session,  to  a  full  captaincy.  Captain  Dexter  held 
also  the  office  of  paymaster  in  Colonel  Greene's  regi- 
ment, and  was  providentially  preserved  at  the  time  of 
the  murder  of  the  Colonel  and  of  Major  Flagg,  at  Rhode 
Island  Village,  May  14,  1781.  He  had  intended  to  go 
down  to  this  post  and  to  be  with  Colonel  Greene  on 
the  very  night  on  which  he  was  attacked,  in  order  to  pay 
off  the  troops  in  the  morning,  but  his  horse  being  taken 
lame,  he  did  not  arrive  before  the  massacre. 

ii2    '■^I  am  certain  he  was  then  Major." 

The  date  of  the  attack  on  Quebec,  by  Arnold's  expedi- 
tion, in  which  were  embraced  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men  belonging  to  Rhode  Island  troops,  was  Decem- 
ber 31,  1775.  Arnold  [History  of  Rhode  Island^  ii.  362, 
363),  in  speaking  of  Christopher  Greene  as  leader  of 
the  first  battalion  in  the  expedition,  styles  him  "Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel." Judge  Cowell  also,  in  the  Spirit  of 
'y6  in  Rhode Island{p.  262), narrates:  "Colonel  Greene 
was  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  one  of  the  battalions  that 
marched  from  Cambridge,  in  1775,  in  the  Canada  ex- 
pedition." At  the  May  session  of  the  General  Assembly, 
in  1775,  Christopher  Greene  had  been  chosen  major  of 
the   regiment    of  King's  County  and   Kent,   in   the 


414  Notes 

"  Army  of  Observation."  It  may  be  remarked  farther, 
that  in  October,  1776,  Christopher  Greene  was  re- 
commended, by  General  Washington,  to  the  General 
Assembly  of  Rhode  Island,  to  be  appointed  colonel, 
in  the  "  New  Establishment,"  and  that,  in  the  first  May 
session  of  1777,  he  was  appointed  "colonel  of  the  first 
Continental  battalion,  raising  in  this  state." 

813    "Major  Thayer'' 

Simeon  Thayer  was  appointed  a  lieutenant  in  the  "Army 
of  Observation  "in  1775."  Hewas  ever  an  aftive,  faith- 
ful and  enterprising  officer,  never  avoiding,  but  always 
grappling  with  danger  and  difficulty,  in  whatever  form 
presented,  and  it  was  very  rarely  that  he  ever  failed 
to  accomplish  his  design."  (Cowell's  Spirit  of  'y6  in 
Rhode  Island^  p.  283.)  Lieutenant  Thayer  was  soon 
raised  to  the  rank  of  captain,  and  became  a  member  of 
the  Canada  expedition,  in  the  autumn  of  1775.  His 
journal,  recounting  the  daily  occurrences  attending  the 
unsuccessful  storming  of  Quebec,  has  been  partially 
printed.  He  was  captured  with  the  other  officers  and 
retained  as  a  prisoner  until  August,  1776,  when  he  was 
permitted  to  return  home  on  parole,  although  not  ex- 
changed until  July  i,  1777.  At  this  time  the  General 
Assembly  ordered  a  sword,  in  recognition  of  his  meri- 
torious services,  to  be  presented  to  Af(3/(?r  Simeon  Thayer, 
a  rank  to  which  he  had  been  by  that  time  promoted 
by  Congress,  As  soon  as  possible  Major  Thayer  rejoined 
the  army,  and  exhibited  all  that  patriotism,  courage,  and 
zeal  for  his  country  which  he  had  previously  shown 
in  his  march  through  the  wilderness  of  Canada  and  at 
the  storming  of  Quebec.  He  was  wounded  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Monmouth,  New  Jersey,  June  28,  1778,  but  his 
greatest  display  of  valour  and  coolness  was  in  the  de- 
fence of  Mud  Island,  in  the  Delaware  River,  below 
Philadelphia,  November  15,  1777.  After  the  termina- 
tion of  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  Major  Thayer  was 
honoured  by  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  by  being  chosen 
major-general  of  the  militia.  He  died  October  21,1 800, 
in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age. 


Notes  415 

814  "  'The  delinquency  of  Colonel  Sam  Smith." 
Samuel  Smith  belonged  in  Baltimore  and  was  an  officer 
of  the  Maryland  line.  He  was,  according  to  the  testi- 
mony of  General  Varnum,  a  gentleman  of  superior 
talents  and  fine  sentiments,  virtuous  and  brave.  He  com- 
manded the  garrison  upon  Mud  Island  for  about  six 
weeks,  in  the  autumn  of  1777,  until  November  11, 
when  the  fatigues  and  dangers  of  the  command,  which 
he  had  endured  with  uncommon  patience  and  fortitude, 
compelled  him,  after  receiving  a  wound  in  the  arm,  to 
retire.  It  was  at  this  junilure  that  Major  Thayer  took 
command,  and  for  four  days  defended  the  island  with 
great  address  against  a  furious  and  almost  continuous 
bombardment,  until  he  was  forced  to  despatch  all  his  gar- 
rison to  the  shore,  except  about  forty  men,  with  whom 
he  remained,  braving  death  itself.  At  midnight,  on  the 
15th,  after  firing  the  barracks  and  removing  the  mili- 
tary stores,  he  himself,  with  his  brave  companions,  ar- 
rived at  Red  Bank,  to  the  joy  and  astonishment  of  all 
the  army.  Congress  having  voted  that  an  elegant  sword 
be  presented  to  Colonel  Samuel  Smith,  unaware  that  the 
commander  of  Mud  Island  had  been  changed,  the  "de- 
linquency "  of  Colonel  Smith, alluded  to  in  the  text, con- 
sisted in  his  having  accepted  the  honour  and  not  having 
transferred  the  gift  to  the  final  defender.  Major  Thayer. 

815  ''Silas  talhotr 

Talbot  was  first  appointed  a  captain  in  the  "Army  of 
Observation"  in  1775.  In  Oitober,  1777,  he  was  pro- 
moted by  Congress  to  the  rank  of  major,  in  the  army 
of  the  United  States.  In  1778,  as  a  recognition  of  his 
bravery  in  capturing  the  British  armed  schooner  Pigot^ 
in  the  East  Passage  of  Rhode  Island,  Congress  pre- 
sented him  with  a  commission  of  lieutenant-colonel. 
During  the  following  year  Colonel  Talbot  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  navy  as  a  captain,  and  given  command  of 
the  sloop  Jrgo^  as  a  mark  of  distinguished  merit. 

816  '■^Colonel  Mathews"' 

At  the  August  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  1 7  7  6 , 


4i6  Notes 

Caleb  Matthews  was  chosen  as  an  ensign  in  Colonel 
Lippitt's  (Second)  regiment.  In  February,  1 779, he  was 
chosen  bythe  Assembly  a  lieutenant  in  the  first  battalion. 
C(j/5«^/ appears,  from  the  text,  to  have  been  a  militia  title 
held  in  1778. 

817  ''''Job  Greene,  the  ColoneVs  eldest  sonT 

Colonel  Job  Greene,  "of  Centreville,"  was  born  No- 
vember 19,  1759.  He  was  a6live  in  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary affairs  and  was  commander  of  the  Kentish  Artil- 
lery, a  military  company,  still  in  existence  at  Apponaug. 
He  was  also  a  lieutenant  in  the  Second  Regiment  of 
the  Rhode  Island  State  Brigade,  in  the  Continental  ser- 
vice, and  an  original  member  of  the  Rhode  Island  So- 
ciety of  the  Cincinnati.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Rhode 
Island  House  of  Representatives  and  a  State  senator, 
being  admired  and  esteemed  in  these  offices  for  his  in- 
tegrity and  ability.  Colonel  Greene  married,  Novem- 
ber 29,  1785,  Abigail  Rhodes,  of  Stonington,  Connec- 
ticut, who  inherited  considerable  property  from  her 
grandfather  Babcock,  of  Westerly,  and  was  a  woman 
of  uncommon  energy  and  judgement  and  remarkably 
gifted  in  conversation.  {The  Greenes  of  Rhode  Island^ 
pp.  275-6.) 

818  ''^The  second  son  of  the  Colonel^ 

This  allusion  plainly  refers  to  Christopher  Rhodes 
Greene,  the  elder  son  (not  the  brother)  of  Colonel  Job 
Greene,  and  grandson  of  Colonel  Christopher.  He  was 
born  September  19,  1786,  and  married  Mary  Ann,  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Lehr6,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 
He  went  to  Charleston  in  181 2,  and  became  a  com- 
mission merchant,  dying  there  November  6,  1825,  of 
scarlet  fever.  He  had  but  one  child,  who  died  young. 

819  "/  have  never  heard  of  the  sword  since." 

The  sword  of  Colonel  Greene  passed  from  Simon  Henry 
Greene,  into  the  possession  of  Edward  Aborn  Greene, 
his  eldest  son  and  a  grandson  of  Colonel  Christopher. 
It  is  now  in  the  possession  of  his  son,  Edward  Aborn 
Greene,  junior,  of  Providence. 


Notes  417 

120   ^^ Colonel  DeLancey." 

John  Peter  DeLancey  (born  in  New  York  city,  July 
15,  1753;  died  in  Mamaroneck,  New  York,  January 
30,  1828)  was  a  son  of  James  DeLancey,  chief  jus- 
tice and  Heutenant-governor  of  the  Province  of  New 
York,  and  a  grandson  of  Etienne  DeLancey,  merchant 
in  New  York  city  and  founder  of  the  DeLancey  family 
in  America.  John  Peter  was  educated  in  England,  and 
entered  the  British  Army  in  1771  an  ensign,  being 
promoted  to  be  captain  of  the  Eighteenth  Regiment  of 
foot.  During  a  portion  of  the  Revolutionary  War  he 
served  as  major  of  the  regiment  of  Pennsylvania  loyal- 
ists, and  was  present  at  the  battles  of  Brandywine  and 
Germantown  and  at  the  capture  of  Pensacola, returning 
later  to  his  original  regiment  abroad.  In  1789,  he  took 
up  his  residence  at  Mamaroneck,  living  there  until  his 
death.  His  son,  William  Heathcote  DeLancey,  was  the 
distinguished  first  bishop  of  Western  New  York. 

•  21    ^'■Captain  As  gill." 

Sir  Charles  Asgill,  baronet,  entered  the  army  when  only 
sixteen  years  of  age,  serving  in  America  under  Corn- 
wallis.  He  was  but  nineteen  and  already  a  captain  when 
seleiled  by  lot  from  among  the  British  prisoners,  as  nar- 
rated in  the  text,  to  be  immediately  executed.  His  death 
was,  however,  postponed,  pending  an  investigation .  Cap- 
tain Asgill  was  finally  set  at  liberty  by  Congress,  in  re- 
sponse to  an  appeal  from  Queen  Marie  Antoinette,  and 
ultimately  became  a  general  in  the  British  Army.  His 
experience  was  dramatized  by  Madame  de  Sevignd. 

\li    "Major  Flagg." 

When,  at  the  first  June  session  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  Rhode  Island  in  i775,"Itwasvoted  and  resolved, 
that  the  committee  of  safety  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  di- 
rected to  charter  two  suitable  vessels,  for  the  use  of  the 
Colony,  and  fit  out  the  same  in  the  best  manner,  to  pro- 
te6t  the  trade  of  this  Colony,"  Ebenezer  Flagg  was  ap- 
pointed quartermaster  of  the  larger  vessel, —  the  Wash- 
ington^— at  the  wages  of  ^4,  lawful  money,  per  month, 
under  Abraham  Whipple,  commodore.  This  vessel,  to- 


4i8  Notes 

gether  with  the  Katy^  formed  the  embryo  squadron  of 
the  navy  of  Rhode  Island,  ushering  in  a  glorious  era  of 
national  enterprise  on  the  sea.  The  naval  career  of  Flagg, 
however,  would  seem  to  have  been  a  brief  one,  for 
at  the  second  June  session  he  was  chosen  one  of  the 
captains  of  the  six  additional  companies  to  be  raised 
for  the  "Army  of  Observation."  In  1776,  at  the  O6I0- 
ber  session  of  the  Assembly,  Captain  Flagg  was  chosen 
to  hold  the  same  office  in  the  first  battalion,  or  regi- 
ment, to  be  raised  by  the  State,  agreeably  to  the  requi- 
sition of  Congress.  At  about  the  same  time  he  was  re- 
commended to  the  General  Assembly, by  General  Wash- 
ington, for  a  similar  position  in  "the  new  establishment," 
under  Colonel  Christopher  Greene.  In  May,  1779,  the 
Captain  was  recommended  to  Congress  for  promotion 
to  be  a  major,  and  is  found,  in  July,  1 780,  under  march- 
ing orders  with  the  same  regiment.  At  the  massacre  of 
"Rhode  Island  Village"  Major  Flagg  was  killed  in  his 
tent.  In  January,  1782,  the  administrator  of  his  estate 
was  empowered  to  draw  his  pay  in  "silver  money." 
(Rhode  Island  Colonial  Records,  vii.  347,  357;  viii. 
10,  36^  5365  ix.  121,  518.) 

823    "Mm  Anne  Lippit'' 

Anna  Lippitt  was  a  third  cousin  of  her  husband,  being 
a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Welthyan  or  Welthian 
(Greene)  Lippitt  and  a  granddaughter  of  Moses '"^^  and 
Anphillis'"  (Whipple)  Lippitt,  of  Old  Warwick.  She 
was  born  November  15,1735,  and  was  married  May  6, 

1757- 

At  the  time  of  Colonel  Greene's  death,  eight  of  his 

children  were  living,  viz.,  three  sons, — Job,  Jeremiah, 

and  Christopher, — and  five  daughters, — Welthyan  or 

Welthian  (afterwards  wife  of  Colonel  Thomas  Hughes), 

Phebe  (who  died  unmarried  in  1786),  Ann  Frances 

(afterwards  wife  of  Jeremiah  Fenner),  Elizabeth  (also, 

before  her  sister,  wife  of  Jeremiah  Fenner),  and  Mary 

(who  in  1795  married  Benjamin  Fenner,  brother  of 

Jeremiah).  Mrs.  Christopher  Greene  afterwards  became 

the  wife  of  Colonel  John  Low,  of  Old  Warwick. 


Notes  419 

824  ^^ Anthony  Low.'* 

Captain  Low  was  the  elder  son  of  John  Low,  of  War- 
wick, who  died  in  1757,  and  Ann  (Holden),  his  wife, 
and  a  grandson  of  John  and  Mary  (Rhodes)  Low,  also 
of  Warwick.  His  great-grandfather,  called,  in  the  text, 
"Anthony  Low  of  Swansea,"  was  a  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  Low,  of  Boston,  his  father  being  a  wheel- 
wright. He  bought  a  house  and  land  in  Pawtuxet  (War- 
wick) in  1666.  In  1670,  he  deeded  to  his  son  John  a 
dwelling-house  and  land  in  Warwick,  he  himself  giv- 
ing his  residence  as  Swansea,  Massachusetts,  at  which 
place  he  seems,  at  about  this  time,  to  have  built  a  house. 
On  June  27,  1675,  Roger  Williams  wrote  to  John 
Winthrop  that  the  Indians  "had  burnt  about  twelve 
houses,  one  new  great  one  (Anthonie  Loes)"  in  Swan- 
sea. 

825  "/«  1 7  9 1 ,  //  was  incorporated. ' ' 

This  charter  was  entitled  (Rhode  Island  Colonial  Re- 
cords, X.  466)  "An  A(5l  to  incorporate  certain  persons, 
by  the  name  of  the  Minister,  Church  Wardens,  Vestry 
and  Congregation  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  in  Narragan- 
sett,  in  North  Kingstown,  in  the  county  of  Washing- 
ton, in  this  State."  It  was  procured  at  a  troublous  time 
in  the  history  of  St.  Paul's  Parish,  soon  after  Dr.  Wal- 
ter C.  Gardiner""  assumed  charge  of  the  church,  and 
is  understood  to  have  reflected  the  wishes  of  but  a  por- 
tion of  the  parish  and  to  have  been  of  a  somewhat  un- 
churchly  chara6ter.  The  opinion  of  a  (then)  recent  rec- 
tor, the  Rev.  William  Smith,  at  that  time  re6lor  at  New- 
port, upon  this  A61  is  shown  in  a  sound  letter  of  advice 
to  one  of  the  parishioners,  under  date  of  06lober  8, 
1 792  :  "  If  you  cannot  avoid  meeting  under  their  fool- 
ish charter  without  running  the  risque  of  souring  their 
minds  at  the  first  outset,  better  pass  over  that  punc- 
tilio and  meet  on  the  best  ground  you  can.  .  .  .  Re- 
quest a  hearing  of  the  A61  of  Incorporation  and  avoid 
hard  words  upon  it. .  .  .  Remark  that  it  is  neither  simi- 
lar in  sense  nor  efficacy  with  the  charters  of  your  sister 
churches  and  that  you  wish  not  to  be  singular  but  to 


420  Notes 

have  an  Incorporation  with  similar  powers  and  words 
to  theirs. . . .  Persuade  them  to  a  Revision  of  the  Char- 
ter on  these  principles. ...  If  they  mean  well  to  the 
Church.  .  .  they  will  agree  to  this."  In  the  new  char- 
ter, procured  in  March,  1794,  and  signed  by  Arthur 
Fenner,  Governor,  and  H.  Ward,  Secretary  of  State, 
it  was  expressly  provided  that  the  corporation  should 
be  endowed  "with  full  Power  and  Lawful  Authority 
to  Make  and  Ordain  all  such  Laws,  Rules  and  Ordi- 
nances as  they  shall  at  anytime  hereafter  agree  upon,. . . 
as  fully  to  every  intent  and  purpose,  as  hath  heretofore 
been  granted  to  the  Other  Episcopal  Churches  of  this 
State." 

826  ^^ A  church  was  ere£led  on  'Tower  Hiliy 

The  exa6t  date  of  the  consecration  of  this  edifice  was 
November  i  o,  1 8 1 8.  It  is  interesting  to  note  concerning 
this  enterprise  that  Judge  Benjamin  Gardiner^'^  who  was 
a  nephew  of  Mrs.  MacSparran  and  had  been  brought 
up  in  St.  Paul's  Parish,  but  was  then  living  in  Middle- 
town,  Rhode  Island,  was  deeply  engaged  in  the  erec- 
tion of  this  first  church  in  his  native  town  of  South 
Kingstown.  He  himself  gave  sixty  dollars  for  the  un- 
dertaking and  exerted  himself  to  obtain  subscriptions 
for  it,  in  Newport,  to  the  extent  of  nearly  five  hundred 
dollars.  (Potter's  Early  Narragansett^  p.  375.) 

827  "The  Rev.  Erastus  BeWolf:' 

Mr.  DeWolf  was  ordained  to  the  diaconate  not  long 
before  the  session  of  the  Rhode  Island  Convention  of 
June  12, 1832.  Soon  after  this  date  he  was  appointed 
missionary  in  charge  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Tower  Hill, 
South  Kingstown,  where  he  remained  until  the  early 
part  of  1834.  During  the  spring  of  that  year  Mr.  De- 
Wolf  began  to  hold  services  at  Westerly.  After  con- 
tinuing there  a  few  months,  he  returned  to  Tower  Hill, 
as  noted  in  the  text,  and  subsequently  removed  to  the 
Diocese  of  Illinois. 

828  '■'■The  lands  .  .  .  were  satisfa5lorily  divided.^* 
Bishop  Griswold,  writing  to  Henry  Codman,  Esq.,  a 


Notes  421 

member  of  the  board  of  "Trustees  of  the  Episcopal 
Fund"  of  the  Eastern  Diocese,  under  date  of  May  27, 
1835,  remarks,  concerning  this  subje6l:  "For  above 
thirty  years,  within  my  knowledge,  those  [Narragan- 
sett]  lands  have  been  a  subjeft  or  cause  of  animosity 
and  contention  between  the  people  of  the  two  towns. 
In  all  that  time  I  have  endeavoured  to  promote  peace 
among  them. . .  .  This  last  compromise  is  not  certainly 
what  it  should  be,  but  is  the  best  that  could  be  efFe6led, 
It  is  indeed  what  I  proposed."  Mr.  DeWolf,  in  his 
parochial  report  at  the  preceding  Convention,  records: 
"The  unhappy  difficulties  concerning  the  lands  in  the 
Narragansett,  we  have  reason  to  believe  will  be  forgot- 
ten, as  they  have  been  settled." 

829  "2"/2(?  Rev.  Francis  Vinton." 

This  is  the  well-known  soldier  and  clergyman  (born 
in  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  August  29, 1809;  died  in 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  September  29,  1872)  who  was 
later  successively  in  charge  of  St.  Stephen's  Church, 
Providence,  Trinity  Church,  Newport,  Emmanuel  and 
Grace  Churches,  Brooklyn,  New  York,  and  Trinity 
Church,  New  York  city. 

830  ^^ Since y  there  have  been  but  occasional  services  held 
at  Tower  Hill." 

In  1844  an  attempt  was  made,  apparently  unsuccess- 
ful, to  revive  the  Tower  Hill  Church,  under  the  mi- 
nistry of  the  Rev.  Elisha  F.  Watson,  then  recently  or- 
dained a  deacon.  Fitful  services  were  held  there  for 
about  a  dozen  years  longer  by  neighbouring  clergymen. 
After  the  expiration  of  this  period,  the  enterprise  ap- 
pears to  have  been  abandoned,  the  church  edifice  be- 
ing advertised  to  be  sold  at  auftion,  in  the  autumn  of 
1859,  ^^^  finally  transformed  into  a  dwelling-house. 

83 1  "  The  Rev.  James  Pratt." 

The  later  ministry  of  Mr.  Pratt, as  recSlor  of  St.  Stephen's 
Church,  Portland,  Maine,  was  one  of  great  ability,  fi- 
delity,and  success,  the  edifice  being  enlarged  and  beau- 
tified during  its  continuance  of  nineteen  years.  In  the 


422  Notes 

latter  portion  of  1858,  he  became  redlor  of  the  Church 
of  the  Covenant,  Philadelphia. 

832  ''the  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Vaiiy 

The  Rt.  Rev.  Thomas  Hubbard  Vail,  D.  D.,  LL.D. 
(born  06lober  21,1812;  died  October  6,  18 89),  con- 
secrated, in  1864,  the  first  bishop  of  Kansas. 

833  '"T^he  Rev.  Sylvester  Nash." 

Mr.  Nash  came  to  Rhode  Island  from  St.  Albans,  Ver- 
mont. On  leaving  this  diocese,  he  took  charge  of  the 
church  in  Saco,  Maine,  and  later  vv^as  re6lor  of  St. 
John's  Church,  Essex,  Conne61:icut,  and  of  other  par- 
ishes. The  v/ell-knou^n  Rev.  Henry  Sylvester  Nash, 
D.  D.,  a  professor  at  the  Episcopal  Theological  School, 
Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  is  a  nephev^  of  the  Rev^ 
Sylvester  Nash. 

834  ''The  Rev.  William  H.  Moore." 

Dr.  Moore  w^as  subsequently  for  more  than  forty  years 
rector  of  St.  George's  Church,  Hempstead,  Long  Is- 
land. He  was  related  to  the  Moores  of  Newport,  Rhode 
Island,  and  probably  originated  there. 

835  "The  Rev.  Silas  A.  Crane." 

Silas  Axtell  Crane  was  born  in  Berkley,  Massachusetts, 
October  21,  1799.  He  graduated  at  Brown  University 
in  1823,  being  immediately  invited  to  the  office  of  tu- 
tor in  that  institution.  In  1832,  Mr.  Crane  was  ordained 
to  the  diaconate  by  Bishop  Griswold,  and  was  invited, 
in  the  following  year,  to  the  re6lorship  of  St.  Stephen's 
Church,  Middlebury,  Vermont,  where  he  was  ordained 
a  priest.  Having  been  asked,  by  Bishop  Hopkins,  to  ac- 
cept a  professorship  in  his  new  Theological  Seminary 
at  Burlington,  he  removed  thither  for  that  purpose,  in 
1837.  The  enterprise  not,  however,  on  closer  acquaint- 
ance, appearing  to  him  to  be  likely  to  be  successful, 
he  took  up  temporary  work  in  churches  of  the  neigh- 
bourhood and,  in  1839,  removed  to  Missouri,  to  assume 
the  presidency  of  Kemper  College,  St.  Louis.  In  the 
autumn  of  184 1,  Mr.  Crane  returned  to  New  England, 


Notes  423 

and  soon,  as  noted  in  the  text,  entered  upon  his  long 
and  devoted  re6lorship  of  St. Luke's  Church,  East  Green- 
wich. In  1855,  he  received,  from  his  alma  mater^  the 
degree  of  Dodtor  of  Divinity.  He  died  July  16,  1872. 

836  '■'Kingston:' 

The  name  of  Kingston,  or  Kingston  Hill,  for  the  cen- 
tral village  of  South  Kingstown,  is  of  comparatively 
modern  date,  and  is  believed  not  to  have  been  derived 
from  the  name  of  the  town,  differing  from  it,  as  it  does, 
in  orthography,  but  to  have  been  given  it  by  a  gentle- 
man from  England,  who  discovered  in  it  a  resem- 
blance to  a  "Kingston  Hill"  near  London.  The  old 
title  of  the  village  was  Little  Rest,  a  name  by  which  it  is 
sometimes  still  called.  Concerning  this  peculiar  desig- 
nation, Mrs.  Caroline  E.  Robinson,  the  author  of  The 
Hazard  Family  of  Rhode  Island^  remarks :  "  I  do  not 
know  the  origin  of  the  name  'Little  Rest.'  I  think  it 
was  called  'Little  Rest'  before  the  Courts  were  estab- 
lished there,  though  one  story  is  that  there  was  very 
'little  rest'  there,  during  court-week.  Another  story  is 
that  Captain  Church  stopped  there  for  a  '  little  rest,'  on 
his  way  to  or  from  the '  swamp  fight.' "  The  Court  House 
is  called,  in  the  text,  the  State  House,  probably  in  allu- 
sion to  the  fa6l  that,  in  former  times,  the  Assembly  met, 
in  rotation,  in  each  of  the  three  county  court-houses, 
as  well  as  in  the  two  state-houses,  of  the  State. 

837  ''A  church  was  organized:* 

This  church  was  called  St.  Peter's.  The  wardens,  eledted 
December  27,  1834,  were  Philip  Taylor  and  George 
Robinson.  The  vestrymen  were  Wilkins  Updike,  Abel 
Cottrel,  Peleg  Brown,  junior,  E.  R.  Potter,  junior,  Wil- 
liam Brown,  Samuel  P.  Lawton,  Thomas  B.  Church, 
Christopher  Gardiner,  William  H.  Case,  Walter  W. 
Updike,  and  Updike  C.  Whitford. 

838  ''Lieutenant  A.  A.  HarwoodJ'""' 

Andrew  Allen  Harwood  was  commissioned  lieutenant 
in  1827,  and  from  1835  to  1837  served  in  the  Medi- 
terranean squadron.  In  1848,  he  was  promoted  to  com- 


424  Notes 

mander  and,  in  1855,  was  appointed  captain.  In  1862, 
he  became  commodore,  and  was  made  commandant  of 
the  Washington  navy-yard  and  the  Potomac  flotilla.  In 
1869,  he  was  promoted  to  be  rear-admiral  on  the  retired 
list.  During  the  Civil  War  he  wrote  a  work  on  Summary 
Courts-AIartial znd^lzter^  another  on  The  Law  and  Prac- 
tice of  the  United  States  Navy  Courts-JHartial  (rei'erredto 
in  Note  710).  Admiral  Harwood's  mother  was  a  grand- 
daughter of  Benjamin  Franklin. 

839  "The  Rev.  James  H.  Eames." 

James  Henry  Eames  (born  at  Dedham,  Massachusetts, 
November  29,  18 14;  died  at  Hamilton,  Bermuda,  De- 
cember 10,  1877)  graduated  at  Brown  University  in 
1 839,  and  was  ordained  to  the  diaconate  in,  or  just  be- 
fore, 1842.  After  leaving  Wakefield  in  1846,  he  con- 
tinued re6lor  of  St.  Stephen's  Church,  Providence,  until 
1850.  From  1850  to  1858,  Mr.  Eames  was  a  mission- 
ary in  charge  of  several  small  churches  in  the  Woonas- 
quatucket  valley.  From  the  latter  year  until  his  death  he 
was  reiftor  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Concord,  New  Hamp- 
shire. He  received  the  degree  of  Do6tor  of  Divinity 
from  Norwich  University,  Vermont,  in  1862. 

840  "The  Rev.  James  H.  Carpenter." 

James  Helme  Carpenter '"  was  of  genuine  Narragan- 
sett  stock,being  a  descendant,  on  his  father's  side,  of  the 
prominent  Willett  family,  of  Boston  Neck,  described 
in  Chapter  XIII  and  in  Notes  555  and  560.  Miss  Es- 
ther Bernon  Carpenter,  the  well-known  writer,  was  a 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  James  H.  Carpenter. 

841  "Sir  Francis  Nicholson." 

It  appears  that  soon  after  this  date  Sir  Francis  was  ail- 
ing, not  merely  as  a  philanthropist,  in  founding  and  fos- 
tering churches  in  America,  but  as  a  recognized  agent 
of  the  S.  P.  G.  In  November,  1 7 1 2,  " on  the  authority 
given  him  by  the  Society,"  he  sent  the  Rev.  John  Lamb- 
ton  to  the  parish  or  mission  at  Newbury,  Massachusetts, 
and  in  December,  1 7 1 3,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Eager  "  peti- 
tioned Sir  Francis  Nicholson,  who  at  this  time  had  a  gen- 


'S^oi>^^y'^yC^^^^*'^<yf^€t^^t>A*^■*^^ 


Notes  425 

eral  supervision  of  the  missions  of  the  Society  in  the  northern 
Co/owzVj, showing  that  'he  .  .  .  desired  to  be  dismissed'" 
from  the  church  at  Braintree,  in  the  same  colony.  In 
the  latter  year,  the  ministers,  wardens,  and  vestry  of 
King's  Chapel,  Boston,  in  a  letter  to  Bishop  Robinson, 
speak  of  "the  Benefailions  of  the  Hon'ble  Francis 
Nicholson,  Esq',  (whose  Eminent  services  to  his  Queen 
and  country,  and  AfFeftionate  Concern  for  the  Church 
of  England,  will  render  his  name  ever  precious  amongst 
us,  and  famous  to  Posterity)."  On  the  same  date,  in  a 
communication  to  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel,  they  refer  to  "  the  Hon.  General  Nichol- 
son, a  most  worthy  member  of  your  honourable  So- 
ciety, and  a  most  generous  benefaftor  to  the  Church  in 
these  parts."  At  Christmas,  1 713,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Myles 
records  that  his  Excellency,  General  Nicholson,  with 
Governor  Dudley,  was  present  "at  the  communion." 
(Batchelder's  History  of  the  Eastern  Diocese^  i.  382-5, 
433,  489.)  It  is  interesting,  in  this  conne61:ion,  to  note 
the  association  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport,  under  the 
inspiration  of  Sir  Francis,  with  the  initial  activities  of 
the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel.  Mr. 
George  Gordon  King,  senior  warden  of  that  parish,  in 
a  letter  written  from  London,  in  May,  1906,  remarks  : 
"I  have  just  found,  much  to  my  amazement,  from  an 
examination  of  the  records  of  the  S.  P.  G.,  that  the 
People  of  Newport,  in  Rhode  Island,  were  the  first 
people  to  make  application  for  assistance  and  were  also 
the  first  people  to  receive  it  from  the  Society." 

"Afr.  John  Lockyer,  an  Episcopal  clergyman.''* 
It  has  been  hitherto  assumed,  on  the  existing  evidence, 
that  Mr.  Lockyer  was  the  first  Church  of  England 
minister  stationed  at  Newport.  It  has,  however,  been 
recently  discovered  that  a  Rev.  Mr.  Bethune  was  regu- 
larly licensed  for  the  position  as  early  as  1700,  and 
that  Mr.  Lockyer  had  succeeded  him  in  the  follow- 
ing year.  Professor  John  Franklin  Jameson,  then  at- 
tached to  Brown  University,  found,  about  1896,  in 
the  library  of  Sion  College,  London,  certain   lists  of 


426  Notes 

books  sent  out  to  Rhode  Island  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bray 
"tow'^^  the  Raising  a  Parochial  Library  for  the  Min- 
ister there."  Two  of  these  consignments  are  receipted 
for,  October  19,  1700,  by  D^  Bethune  (or  Bethun), 
"Licens'd  to  be  the  Minister  of  y^  Place."  Another  re- 
ceipt, of  the  date  of  November  12, 1 701,  bears  the  sig- 
nature of  John  Lockier.  {^Publications  of  the  Rhode  Island 
Historical  Society  [New  Series] ,  Vol.  iv.  No.  4  [Janu- 
ary, 1897],  PP-  227-31).  As  there  is  evidence  (Ma- 
son's Annals  of  Trinity  Churchy  p.  13)  that  the  con- 
gregation in  Newport  began  to  assemble  soon  after 
September,  1698,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  it  was 
by  Mr.  Bethune,  probably  under  the  appointment  of 
General  Nicholson,  that  services  were  then  established 
there.  Sometime  between  06lober,  1700,  and  Novem- 
ber, 1 701,  Mr.  Lockver,  as  above  stated,  must  have 
succeeded  Mr.  Bethune,  remaining  certainly  until  Sep- 
tember, 1702,  and  probably  nearly  until  the  arrival  of 
Mr.  Honyman,  in  1704.  Little  has  been  transmitted 
concerning  the  origin  or  the  history  of  Mr.  Lockyer 
(or  Lockier ^2iS  the  name  seems  to  have  been  indifferently 
spelled),  "of  whom,"  as  Mr.  Mason  remarks  (p.  10), 
"it  is  to  be  regretted  that  we  know  so  little."  There 
was  a  certain  Nicholas  Lockyier,  born  in  Somerset- 
shire, England,  in  16 12,  who  was  successively  a  cler- 
gyman of  the  Church  and  a  Presbyterian  divine,  a  chap- 
lain in  Cromwell's  army  and  a  provost  of  Eton  College. 
It  is  not  improbable  that  John  was  a  son  or  grandson 
of  this  Nicholas.  He  appears  to  have  been,  to  some  ex- 
tent, a  companion  of  Keith  and  Talbot.  Mr.  Talbot, 
in  writing  to  the  S.  P.  G.,  April  4,  1704,  remarks:  "I 
should  not  have  forgotten  my  honest  brother  Lockier, 
of  Rhode  Island,  who  is  very  industrious,  when  well. 
The  Quakers,  themselves,  so  far  as  I  can  hear,  have 
no  evil  to  say  of  that  priest."  {Colle^ions  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Historical  Society^  xli-xliii.  13,  22,  23; 
Christian  Witness  and  Church  Advocate^  1 845,  p.  169; 
Drake's  Biographical  Di^ionary ;  Boston  News  Letter^ 
April  24,  1704.)  The  earliest  extant  record  of  Mr. 
Lockyer,  at  Newport^  appears  to  be  the  one,  just  re- 


Notes  427 

ferred  to,  where  he  receipted  for  the  books,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1 701,  and  the  latest,  that  where  he  joins  with  the 
wardens  of  Trinity  Church,  September  29, 1702,  in  a 
communication  to  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel.  In  the  interval,  as  the  first  record  book  of 
Trinity  parish  has  disappeared,  there  seems  to  have 
been  no  mention  of  him  preserved,  except  that  by  the 
Rev.  George  Keith,  who  records  that  in  August,  1702, 
he  repeatedly  met,  in  Newport,  Mr.  Lockyer,  "the 
Church  of  England  minister  there."  Mr.  Lockyer  died 
in  Boston,  about  April  20,  1704.  As  the  above  appli- 
cation to  the  Society  (September  29,  1702)  resulted  in 
the  sending  to  Newport  of  a  substitute  for  himself,  it 
is  probable  that  Mr.  Lockyer  for  some  reason,  perhaps 
his  well-known  ill  health  or  possibly  his  advanced  age, 
did  not  feel  able  to  remain.  It  is  somewhat  interesting 
to  note,  in  this  conne6lion,  that  the  records  of  the  town 
of  Portsmouth,  on  Rhode  Island,  show  that,  on  April 
9,  1702,  Benjamin  Shearman  and  Mary  Lawton  were 
married  there,  by  John  Lockier,  "Justice.  Bishop  Berke- 
ley (then  Dean)  relates,  in  the  introdu6lion  to  the  Mi- 
nute Philosopher .,x\\2X  the  gentleman  with  whom  he  lived 
immediately  after  his  arrival  upon  the  island  was  a 
clergyman'' s  nephew^  who  had  been  brought  up  by  his 
uncle,  and  possessed  a  convenient  house  with  a  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  adjoining.  After  his  customary  man- 
ner, the  Bishop,  instead  of  giving  his  host's  real  name, 
calls  him  by  the  fanciful  Greek  appellation  of  Euphranor., 
characterizing  him  as  "a  philosopher  and  a  farmer," 
and  says  that  he  possessed  a  good  colle<5lion  of  chiefly 
old  books,  which  had  been  left  him  by  his  uncle.  As 
there  is  no  record  of  any  clergyman  of  the  Church 
of  England  living  in  Newport  previously  to  the  Rev. 
James  Honyman  (then  in  the  middle  of  his  long  min- 
istry), with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Bethune  and  Mr. 
Lockyer,  it  seems  almost  certain  that  this  Euphranor 
was  the  nephew  and  foster-son  of  one  of  these  two  and 
the  inheritor  of  his  library.  Such  a  one  would  naturally 
have  formed  a  congenial  host  for  his  brother  philoso- 
pher from  England.  It  appears  also  not  improbable 


428  Notes 

that  the  "John  Lockier,  Justice,"  who,  as  alluded  to 
above,  was  living  upon  the  island  in  1702  and  per- 
formed a  marriage  at  Portsmouth  in  the  spring  of  that 
year,  was  a  namesake  and  nephew  of  the  second  min- 
ister of  Trinity  Church,  and  that  he  was  identical  with 
the  early  entertainer  of  Dean  Berkeley.  The  confound- 
ing of  the  clergyman  himself  with  a  magistrate,  in  this 
case,  is,  however,  possible. 

843  "y/  valuable  library.^'* 

The  establishment  of  a  parochial  library  in  Newport 
antedates  the  foundation  of  the  Venerable  Society  by 
a  few  months,  although  the  colle6lion  may  have  been 
subsequently  augmented  from  that  source.  Dr.  Thomas 
Bray,  commissary  of  the  Bishop  of  London  in  Mary- 
land in  the  time  of  William  III,  interested  himself  greatly 
in  the  promotion  of  parochial  libraries  in  America, 
some  of  them  intended  for  the  use  of  the  clergy  and 
for  reference  by  the  laity  and  others  exclusively  for  the 
latter,  under  the  title  o^  Laymen' s  Libraries.  Such  a  col- 
le6lion  of  books  was  received  in  Newport  in  06lober, 
1700,  embracing  not  far  from  a  hundred  volumes  and 
constituting  the  first  public  library  in  Rhode  Island.  It 
contained  such  standard  works  as  Pearson's  Exposition 
of  the  Cr^^^,  Hooker's  Ecclesiastical  Polity^  Dr.  Barrow's 
Works.,  and  Bishop  Burnet's  Pastoral  Care^  together 
with  some  such  oddly  entitled  books  as  delighted  the 
souls  of  that  period, — Satan  Disrobed^  A  Snake  in  the 
Grass.,  and  J  Defence  of  the  Snake.  There  is  a  record  of 
a  vote  at  a  Vestry  meeting  in  1709:  "Thaty"^  Books 
belonging  to  y'=  Library  of  y"  Church,  which  have  been 
Lent  out,  be  called  in  ...  By  Placards  Affixed  to  the 
Church  Dores."  Many  of  these  books  are  in  a  fair  state 
of  preservation  and  are  stamped  on  the  cover  in  gold 
letters:  "Belonging  to  y'=  Library  in  Rhode  Island." 
(^Publications  of  the  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society.,  iv.  4, 
pp.  227-31 ;  Annals  of  Trinity  Church.,  pp.  18,  19.) 

844  ''Mr.  Nathaniel  Kay.'" 

The  name  of  Mr.  Kay  is  commemorated  in  Newport 
by  Kay  Chapel,  on  Church  Street,  and  by  Kay  Street. 


Notes  429 

845    "  ^''^^e  ^^w  building  was  ere  tied  on  the  site  of  the  old 
>> 
one. 

This  surmise  appears  to  be  erroneous,  as  there  is  evi- 
dence that  the  new  church  was  completed,  sufficiently 
for  occupation,  before  the  removal  of  the  old  one  was 
begun.  In  1725,  Mr.Honyman  reported  to  the  Society 
that  his  congregation  ^'-are  now  building  a  large  new 
church."  On  Monday,  December  6th  of  that  year,  the 
record  shows  that  a  meeting  of  the  minister,  church 
wardens,  and  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  was  held"m  the 
new  Church  r{^2i%oxv\  Annah  of  Trinity  Church,  p.  40.) 
On  March  21,  1725-6,  three  and  a  half  months  later. 
Dr.   MacSparran  wrote,  from  Narragansett,  to  "the 
Gentlemen  of  New  London,"  that  he  had  visited  New- 
port for  the  purpose  of  inquiring  on  what  terms  the  old 
church  would  be  parted  with,  with  a  view  to  its  removal 
to  New  London,  and  informed  them,  as  a  result  of  his 
investigations,  that  "if  you  have  their  Church  you  must 
Send  the  Carpenters,  you  Intend  to  Raise  it,  to  pull  it 
down,''  showing  that  it  was  then  still  standing.  {Id.,  p. 
43.)  How  much  longer  the  building  remained  in  position 
before  its  ultimate  removal  to  Warwick'''  is  not  known, 
but  it  is  significant  of  possible  further  protraded  delay 
that  it  was  not  until  September  2,  1728,  that  the  lot 
of  ground  there,  on  which  it  was  reereded,  was  con- 
veyed, for  the  purpose,  by  the  Rev.  George  Pigot  to  the 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  although  the 
formal  deed  may,  of  course,  have  been  delivered  some- 
what later  than  the  making  of  the  a6tual  transfer.  The 
history  of  the  acquirement  of  its  church  lots  by  Trinity 
parish  also  favours  the  position  that  the  first  edifice  and 
the  second,  while  standing  side  by  side,  did  not  occupy 
the  same  site. 

In  his  will,  made  July  8, 1703,  Robert  Carr,  junior, 
of  Newport,  refers  to  "a  piece  of  land  I  gave  to  set  a 
Church  of  England  on."  This  is  evidently  the  land  on 
the  northern  side  of  the  present  church  lot,  where  the 
earlier  church  must  have  stood.  In  1720,  when  the 
projea  of  a  new  and  larger  church  began  to  be  dis- 
cussed, Francis  Brinley,  on  Odober  3rd,  conveyed  to 


430  Notes 

the  wardens  of  Trinity  Church  a  piece  of  land  on  the 
southern  side  of  the  present  lot,  bounded  south  upon 
"a  way  between  the  land  of  the  said  Francis  Brinley 
and  the  land  of  Caleb  Carr"  (that  is,  the  present  Frank 
Street),  west  on  land  retained  by  Brinley,  and  north  partly 
on  the  lot  already  belonging  to  Trinity  Church  and  partly 
on  land  belonging  to  the  Rev.  James  Honyman,  the 
parcel  measuring  approximately  one  hundred  feet  by 
fifty.  It  was  on  this  Brinley  lot  that,  on  September  lo, 
1 723, the  minister,  church  wardens,  and  vestry  of  Trin- 
ity Church  "unanimously  agreed  to  ere6i:  and  build  a 
new  Church."  i^Annah  of  Trinity  Churchy  p.  57.)  As  the 
first  edifice  stood  on  the  Carr  land  and  the  second  on 
the  Brinley  land,  adjoining,  it  is  evident  that  the  belief 
that  they  occupied  the  same  site  is  unfounded.  The  pre- 
sent church  did  not  reach  the  extreme  eastern  end  of 
the  lot  until  1 762,  when  the  edifice,  for  the  purpose  of 
lengthening,  was  cut  in  two,  the  eastern  part  being 
moved  east  to  the  line  of  Spring  Street.  {Id..,  p.  125.) 
The  portion  of  the  church-yard,  west  of  the  steeple, 
must  have  been  acquired  from  the  Brinley  land  at  some 
period  subsequent  to  the  erection  of  the  church. 

846    '■'■Two  sorts  of  Anabaptists.^^ 

There  were  in  Newport,  at  the  period  here  under  con- 
sideration, three  kinds  of  Baptists: 
(i)  The  regular  Calvinistic  Baptist  Church.,  which  was 
organized  in  1644  and  which  continues  to  the  present 
day. 

(2)  The  Six-Principle  Baptist  Churchy  also  called  Gen- 
eral znd.  later  Old.,  established  in  1656,  pra6lising  lay- 
ing on  of  hands  and  holding  the  do6trine  of  the  poten- 
tial redemption  of  all  men  by  the  death  of  Christ  rather 
than  particular  redemption.  By  I73i,the  Six-Principle 
Church  in  Newport  had  grown  to  be  the  largest  of  all, 
of  any  kind,  in  the  Colony,  continuing  until  after  the 
Revolution. 

(3)  The  Seventh-Day  Baptist  Churchy  or  Sabbatarian. 
This  church  was  organized  in  1 671,  and  became  ex- 
tin  61  after  1850. 


Notes  431 

847  '■^Other  gentlemen  passengers^ 

One  of  the  companions  of  Dean  Berkeley  upon  this 
voyage  was  John  Smibert,  the  portrait-painter,  to  whom 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  MacSparran  afterwards  sat.  Another  was 
Peter  Harrison,  the  assistant  architeft  of  Blenheim  Pal- 
ace, who  subsequently  designed  the  front  of  the  Red- 
wood Library,  the  old  Newport  City  Hall,  the  Jews' 
Synagogue,  and  probably  some  of  the  finer  private 
houses  of  the  town.  (The  negle6l  of  the  second  of  these 
buildings,  one  of  the  most  charming  in  Newport,  is 
lamentable.)  It  is  also  not  improbable  that  the  Rev. 
Arthur  Browne,'"^  afterwards  re6tor  of  King's  Church, 
Providence,  was  one  of  those  "other  gentlemen  passen- 
gers." But  see  Note  849. 

848  "  T^he  Dean  purchased  a  farm" 

The  speedy  determination  of  Berkeley  to  become  a 
resident  of  Newport  is  attested  by  the  fa6i:  that  among 
those  from  that  town  admitted  freemen  of  the  Colony 
of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations,  at  the  ses- 
sion of  the  General  Assembly  held  on  May  6,  1729 
(only  about  three  months  after  his  arrival),  appears  the 
name  Dr.  George  Berkeley.  (Rhode  Island  Colonial  Re- 
cords, iv.  420.) 

849  ''His  Minute  Philosopher." 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  charaSfers  of  this  work  ap- 
pear to  be  chiefly  the  friends  and  neighbours  of  the  Dean 
upon  Rhode  Island.  In  the  introdu6lion,  addressed  to 
Theages  (perhaps  Thomas  Prior,  his  fellow-student  in 
Dublin  University),  he  presents  Eiiphranor.^^^  his  host; 
CritOf^*'  a  neighbouring  gentleman  of  distinguished  merit 
and  estate;"  Alciphron  and  Lysicles^  free-thinkers,  the 
latter  a  near  kinsman  of  Crito;  and  Dion^  apparently  the 
author  himself.  Dion  and  Euphranor  go  to  spend  a  week 
with  Crito,  at  whose  place  the  dialogues  occur. 

Arthur  Browne,  2nd,'°'  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Marma- 
duke  Brown,  redtor  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport,  from 
1760  to  1771,  speaks  (^Miscellaneous  Essays^  ii.  241)  of 
*' White-Hall,"  the  house  of  Dean  Berkeley,  "where  I 


432  Notes 

have  often  been  and  have  visited  many  scenes  evidently 
pointed  out  in  thebeginningof  some  of  his  dialogues,  par- 
ticularly about  certain  romantic  hills,  w^here  he  used  to 
w^ander,  called  'the  hanging-rocks.'" Mr.  Browne  re- 
marks also,  in  the  same  passage,  concerning  the  Dean, 
"While  in  that  country  [America]  he  resided  much  in 
the  house  of  my  grandfather,"  meaning,  no  doubt,  the 
Rev.  Arthur  Brovi^ne.^°^The  tradition^"^ attributed  to  Dr. 
Ezra  Stiles,  that  Mr.  Brovv^ne  v^^as  one  of  those  who  came 
to  America  in  company  with  Deayi  Berkeley .^  although  sup- 
ported by  the  fa6lsthat  they  arrived  in  thesameyear,  ^lic^-, 
and  that  both  were  educated  at  Trinity  College,  Dublin, 
as  well  as  otherwise  highly  probable,  is  yet  not  absolutely 
established.  It  seems  somewhat  strange  that,  if  genuine,  it 
was  not  referred  to  in  the  above  passage  by  the  grandson. 
Dr.  Batchelder,  moreover  {History  of  the  Eastern  Diocese^ 
i.  165-6)  asserts,  perhaps  on  imperfect  evidence,  con- 
cerning the  Rev.  Arthur  Browne:  "July  29,  1729  [six 
months  after  Dean  Berkeley's  landing  in  Newport] ,  he 
received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  [from  Trinity  Col- 
lege, Dublin] .  Influenced,  in  some  measure,  by  the  re- 
putation and  course  of  Dean  Berkeley,  he  soon  after  of- 
fered his  services  to  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts. . . .  He  arrived  in  Newport 
September  2,  1729.  He  remained  there  about  a  year, 
and  then  entered  on  his  duties  in  Providence,  0£toberi, 
1 730. "Whether  or  not, therefore, thetwocame  to  Ame- 
rica together,  they  must  have  been  on  intimateterms,and 
it  must  also  have  been  during  Mr.  Browne's  year  at  New- 
port that  the  Dean,  according  to  the  account  of  Arthur 
Browne  the  younger,  resided  much  in  the  house  of  his 
grandfather.  Indeed,  as  we  know  nothing  about  the  fa- 
mily of  the  elder  Browne,  it  is  impossible  to  disprove 
that  he,  rather  than  a  supposed  nephew  of  Mr.  Lockyer 
(see  Note  842), was  "the  clergyman's  nephew,"  with 
whom  Berkeley,  in  the  introdu6lion  to  the  Minute  Phi- 
losopher^ described  himself  as  living  "immediately  after 
his  arrival  upon  the  island."  In  that  case  Mr.  Browne 
was  the  Euphranor  of  the  dialogues,  the  possessor  of  the 
good  collection  of  old  books  left  him  by  his  uncle.  The 


Notes  433 

friendship  of  Berkeley  and  Browne  is  likely  in  any  case 
to  have  begun  in  the  Old  Country,  and  may  have  led 
to  Dr.  Stiles's  error,  if  it  be  an  error,  as  to  their  hav- 
ing emigrated  from  it  together.  (See  also  Note  865.) 

850  '■^ His  preaching." 

On  the  first  Sunday  after  the  arrival  of  Dean  Berkeley 
atNevi^port,January  26, 1728-9, he  preached, at  Trinity 
Church,  a  sermon  from  the  texts  St.  Luke  xvi.  16  and  I 
Corinthians  i.  2 1 .  This  sermon  he  repeated  in  the  Narra- 
gansett  country  on  the  nth  of  the  succeeding  May. 
The  "skeleton"  of  this  discourse  is  given  in  Berkeley's 
Works,  edited  by  Frazer  (iv.  629-31).  The  texts  and 
dates  of  a  considerable  number  of  his  sermons  in  Rhode 
Island  are  recorded.  Arthur  Brow^ne,  in  the  passage  from 
his  works  referred  to  above  (Note  849),  remarks,  "He 
used  to  preach  at  Newport  and  some  of  his  sermons 
there  lived  in  tradition." 

851  ''^ Still -possesses  some  pipes  of  unrivalled  excellence." 
Mr.  Mason,  writing  nearly  a  half  century  later  than 
Mr.  Bull, remarks, concerningthe  Berkeley  organ:  "The 
pipes,  &c.,  were  long  since  so  worn,  as  to  make  it  neces- 
sary to  replace  them,  but  the  case,  of  English  oak,  beau- 
tiful in  design  and  as  beautifully  made,  remains  as  of 
old ;  surmounted  in  the  centre  by  a  crown,  and  on  either 
hand  a  bishop's  mitre.  To  meet  modern  demands  and 
to  secure  larger  compass,  the  organ  has,  in  recent  years, 
been  greatly  enlarged,  by  adding  wings,  attached  to  the 
old  case,  which  latter  is  made  the  central  portion."  (y/«- 
nals  of  Trinity  Churchy  Newport^  pp.  58,  59,  note.) 

851^  "/«  1750,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Honyman  died." 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Honyman,  hanging  in  the  vestry- 
room  of  the  church,  was  painted  by  an  artist  named 
Gaines  (or  Gains)  and  presented  to  the  parish  by  Miss 
Catharine  Tweedy, in  1 8 1 6.  (Mason's  Annals  of  Trinity 
Churchy  Newport^  pp.  95,  311.)  The  painting  was  en- 
graved in  mezzotint  by  S.  Okey  and  printed  by  Reak(?) 
&  Okey,  Newport,  November  2,  1774.  It  is  one  of 
the  earliest  specimens  of  this  art  in  America. 


434  Notes 

852  "T'c  apply  to  the  Venerable  Society  for  a  minister." 
The  record  shows  that  although  there  was  not  unani- 
mity as  to  the  candidate  recommended  to  the  Society, 
Dr.  Samuel  Johnson, then  missionary  at  Stratford,  Con- 
necticut, and  later  president  of  King's  College  (now 
Columbia  University),  New  York,  received  a  consider- 
able majority  of  the  votes  cast,  and  was  accordingly 
named  to  the  Society  as  the  choice  of  the  Church.  It 
appears  that  Dr.  Johnson  declined  the  position,  as,  on 
July  30,  1750,  the  committee  appointed  to  invite  him 
was  instructed  "to  answer  Dr.  Johnson's  letter  and  to 
repeal  their  invitation  to  him." 

853  "Mr.  Beach" 

The  Rev.  John  Beach  was  born  Odtober  6,  1 700,  and 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1721,  becoming,  at  first, 
a  Congregational  minister.  In  1732,  Trinity  Church, 
Newport,  contributed  to  a  fund  to  send  him  to  England 
for  Holy  Orders.  From  1732  to  1782,  he  was  settled 
at  Newtown  and  Redding,  Connecticut,  dying  during 
the  latter  year.  An  old  letter  speaks  of  "the  indefati- 
gable labours  of  the  ever  industrious  Mr.  Beach."  At 
the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  War  he  is  said  to  have 
declared  that  he  would  pray  for  the  King  till  the  rebels 
cut  out  his  tongue,  (Digest  of  the  S.  P.  G.  Records, 
p.  76.)  Upon  the  earnest  request  of  the  Church  at  New- 
port for  the  services  of  Mr.  Beach,  the  Society  con- 
sented to  his  removal  from  Newtown,  but  he  declined, 
through  want  of  good  health,  to  accept  a  cure  so  much 
greater  than  his  (then)  present  one. 

854  ^^ An  a^  of  incorporation." 

This  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  charter  granted  to 
any  religious  society  in  Rhode  Island.  The  a£t  was 
passed  at  the  session  of  the  Assembly  held  at  East 
Greenwich  on  the  last  Monday  in  February,  1 769,  the 
name  of  the  corporation  being  fixed  as  "The  Minister, 
Church  Wardens,  Vestry,  and  Congregation  of  Trinity 
Church,  in  Newport."  (Rhode  Island  Colonial  Records, 
vi.  573-) 


Notes  435 

855  '"The  Rev.  Willard  Wheeler r 

William  Willard  Wheeler  was  born  in  Concord,  Mas- 
sachusetts, December  24,  1 734,  and  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College  in  1755.  He  was  ordained  in  London, 
in  1 767,  and  was  appointed  by  the  Society  missionary  at 
Georgetown,  on  the  Kennebec  River.  In  April,  1772, 
Mr.  Wheeler  became  assistant  minister  and  school-mas- 
ter at  Newport.  He  does  not  appear  to  have  succeeded 
well  in  the  latter  capacity,  as,  in  1776,  a  committee  of 
the  Church  was  instru6ted  to  acquaint  him  with  the  fa6t 
that  the  vestry  and  congregation  were  greatly  dissatis- 
fied with  regard  to  his  school  and  that  "they  would  have 
no  obje6lion  to  Mr.  Wheeler's  being  removed  to  an- 
other more  advantageous  living."  After  serving  briefly 
at  Providence  and  some  time  at  Scituate  and  Marshfield, 
Massachusetts,  with  occasional  services  at  Bristol,  Mr. 
Wheeler  died,  at  Scituate,  January  14,  18 10. 

856  "Mr.  John  Bours." 

For  more  than  fifty  years  Mr.  Bours'^^was  prominent  and 
efficient  in  Trinity  parish.  There  is  abundant  evidence 
that,  although  he  appears  to  have  been  a  leader  of  those 
who  were  opposed  to  the  recSlor,  the  Rev.  James  Sayre, 
he  lived  a  godly  life  and  was  an  exemplary  Christian. 

857  ''The  Rev.  James  Sayre.'' 

At  the  time  of  Mr,  Sayre's  nomination  to  the  redlor- 
ship  of  Trinity  Church,  Newport, by  Bishop  Seabury,in 
1786,  he  was  tarrying,  without  a  charge,  at  Fairfield, 
Connedlicut.  As  the  Rev.  John  Sayre  had  been  settled  at 
Fairfield  from  1774 to  1779, it  is  reasonable  to  conclude 
that  there  was  a  relationship  between  them, perhaps  that 
of  father  and  son.  The  high  recommendation  of  the 
bishop  is  reconcilable  with  the  subsequent  troubled  rec- 
torship of  Mr.  Sayre  at  Newport,  upon  the  theory  of  his 
mind's  becoming  diseased,  it  being  known  that  he  was 
insane  at  the  end  of  his  life,  in  1798. 

858  ''This  and  the  neighbouring  states'' 

The  convention  held  at  Boston,  September  7,  1785, 
consisted  of  clergy  and  lay  deputies  from  the  churches  in 


436  Notes 

the  States  ofMassachusetts,New  Hampshire,  and  Rhode 
Island  only,  and  was  called  to  deliberate  upon  a  plan  for 
maintaining  uniformity  in  divine  worship  and  adopting 
such  other  measures  as  might  tend  to  the  union  and  pro- 
sperity of  the  Episcopal  churches  in  the  American  States. 
On  Mr.  Bours's  return  from  this  convention  and  report 
of  its  proceedings,  the  congregation  of  Trinity  Church, 
Newport,  on  the  following  Septe7nber  12^  ^7^5^  voted 
and  resolved  "  that  they  fully  approve  of  said  proceed- 
ings and  do  agree  to  adopt  the  alterations  made  in  the 
Liturgy,  agreeable  to  the  plan  proposed."  On  Easter 
Monday,  April  13, 1789,  the  congregation  "Voted:  that 
the  new  form  of  worship,  recommended  by  the  Con- 
vention at  Boston  and  adopted  by  the  Congregation  the 
J/''  of  July^  1786^  be  discontinued,  and  that  the  ser- 
vice be  performed  in  the  manner  that  it  was  prior  to 
that  vote  "  (the  Boston  convention,  referred  to  here, hav- 
ing been  one  held  fuly  21^  iy8&).  The  statement  of  the 
text,  that  it  was  the  parish  vote  of  1785  which  was  re- 
scinded at  the  Easter  meeting  of  1 789,  is  not,  therefore, 
stri6tly  accurate.  (Mason's  Annals  of  Trinity  Churchy 
Newport^  pp.  174-6,  179-81,  187-8.) 

859  ^'■'Theodore  Dehon." 

As  an  introduction  to  the  account  of  Mr.  Dehon's  subse- 
quent career,  contained  in  the  text,  it  may  be  noted  that 
he  was  born  in  Boston,  December  8,  1776,  and  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  College  in  1795.  He  was  ordained  dea- 
con by  Bishop  Bass,  December  24,  1797,  and  priest 
October  9,  1800. 

860  ^^The  Rev.  Abraham  Bronson." 

Mr.  Bronson  came  to  Newport  from  Cheshire,  Con- 
ne6licut.  In  addition  to  fulfilling  the  duties  of  parish 
school-master, he  adted  as  assistant  minister  at  Trinity 
Church.  In  succeeding  years  he  lived  in  Vermont, serv- 
ing, in  1820,  the  parishes  at  Manchester  and  Arling- 
ton, in  that  State. 

861  "The  Rev.  Clement  Merriam." 

Mr.  Merriam  came  to  Newport  from  Brooklyn,  New 


Notes  437 

York.  A  letter,  inserted  in  the  Annals  of  Trinity  Church 
(p.  237),  written  in  response  to  a  request  from  the 
vestry  that  he  take  charge  of  the  services,  in  the  ab- 
senceof  Mr.  Dehon,  for  three  months,  with  a  remuner- 
ation of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars^  evinces  a 
curious  spirit  of  mingled  courtesy  and  sarcasm.  He  ex- 
presses regret  "that  their  present  embarrassment  will 
not  permit  them  to  do  justice  to  their  feelings  in  offer- 
ing a  greater  pecuniary  satisfa6tion;  for  I  have  a  higher 
opinion  of  their  generosity  than  to  suppose  they  deem 
the  sum  which  they  have  offered  me  an  equivalent  for 
discharging  the  duties  of  my  profession,"  closing,  how- 
ever, with  an  acceptance  of  the  offer,  "lamenting  not 
that  my  recompense  is  small,  if  it  can  be  paid  with  the 
same  pleasure  with  which  my  duties  shall  be  per- 
formed." About  eight  months  later,  Oftober  19, 1803, 
Mr.  Merriam  was  married,  in  Newport,  to  Elizabeth 
Hastie. 

862  "Mr.  John  Wardr 

The  Rev.  John  Ward  was  assistant  minister  at  Tri- 
nity from  November,  1805,  to  July,  1 810.  There  being 
no  town  of  Harrington  in  Connecticut,  it  is  probable 
that  Mr.  Ward's  residence  was  Harwinton^  a  town  ad- 
joining Litchfield,  of  which  latter  place  he  was  later 
called  a  resident. 

863  ^^  The  first  missionary  for  Newport  or  Rhode  Is- 
land" 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  first  Churchman  liv- 
ing in  Providence  and  the  first  one  in  any  part  of  Rhode 
Island,  except  the  Rev.  William  Blackstone  in  Cum- 
berland, was  David  Yale,  the  father  of  Elihu  Yale,  from 
whom  Yale  College  derived  its  name.  In  a  letter  to 
Mr.  Updike,  written  soon  after  the  publication  of  the 
History  of  the  Narragansett  Churchy  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Clap  Pitkin,asonoftheeminent  historian  of  the  United 
States,  Timothy  Pitkin ,  and  himself  a  scholar  little  likely 
to  make  an  unfounded  historical  statement,  remarks: 
"I  was  sorry,  in  the  notice  of  the  Church  in  Providence, 
to  see  no  notice  of  David  Yale.  He  was,  so  far  as  I 


438  Notes 

know,  the  first  Churchman  in  Rhode  Island  (with  the 
exception  of  the  Rev.  William  Blackstone,  whose  case 
is  an  obscure  one)  and  signed  the  famous  Remonstrance 
and  Petition  of  1646,  for  which  he  incurred  the  cen- 
sure of  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  for  med- 
dling in  other  people's  business." 

Mr.  Pitkin  mentions  neither  his  authority  for  this 
statement  nor  the  period  when  Mr.  Yale  was  in  Rhode  Is- 
land, But  it  is  not  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  it  was  just 
subsequent  to  the  "  censure,"  above  alluded  to,  of  which 
his  retreat  to  the  refuge  of  the  Colony,  where  Roger  Wil- 
liams's "lively  experiment"  was  being  tried,  may  have 
been  the  result.  David  Yale  came  to  America  and  set- 
tled in  New  Haven,  in  1 638, and  in  1 65 1  he  definitively 
returned  to  England,  the  last  six  years  of  his  tarry,  dur- 
ing which  his  distinguished  son  Elihu  was  born,  be- 
ing spent  in  and  around  Boston.  That  Mr.  Yale  was  a 
Churchman  is  rendered  likely  by  the  fa6t  that  his  mother 
was  a  daughter  of  the  famous  Bishop  of  Durham,  Tho- 
mas Morton,  and  certain  by  the  statement  of  Dr.  Pit- 
kin, above.  The  emigration  of  David  Yale  to  Connec- 
ticut appears  to  have  been  occasioned  by  his  having  be- 
come the  stepson  of  Theophilus  Eaton,  the  first  gover- 
nor of  New  Haven  Colony,  who  married  his  mother, 
Mrs.  David  Yale,  senior.  Eaton  came  to  New  England 
in  1 63  7, and,  in  conjunftion  with  the  Rev.  John  Daven- 
port, founded  the  future  New  Haven  at  Quinnipiac, 
in  1638. 

From  all  these  circumstances  it  appears  probable  that 
Elihu  Yale  also  was  reared  in  the  Church  of  England. 
At  the  age  of  three  years  he  was  carried  to  England, 
with  the  remainder  of  his  father's  family,  and  never 
revisited  America.  After  his  return  from  his  governor- 
ship in  the  East  Indies,  the  possessor  of  great  wealth, 
his  first  purpose  was  to  bestow  a  portion  of  it  upon  some 
college  at  Oxford ;  but  he  finally  diverted  his  gift  to  the 
new  Collegiate  School  atSaybrook,upon  an  appeal  made 
to  him,  not  apparently,  as  a  Congregationalist,  but  as  a 
New  Englander  and,  as  it  was  supposed, although  errone- 
ously, a  Connecticut  man  by  birth.  On  May  22,  1711, 


Notes  439 

Jeremiah  Dummer^'*  wrote  from  London  to  the  Rev. 
John  Pierpont,  then  a  trustee  of  the  Collegiate  School 
of  Connecticut :  "  Here  is  Mr.  Yale,  formerly  governor 
of  Fort  George  in  the  Indies,  w^ho  has  got  a  prodigious 
estate  and,  having  no  son,  now  sends  for  a  relation  of 
his  from  Connecticut  to  make  him  his  heir.  He  told 
me  lately  that  he  intended  to  bestow  a  charity  upon 
some  college  in  Oxford  under  certain  restrictions,  which 
he  mentioned.  But  I  think  he  should  much  rather  do  it 
to  your  college,  seeing  he  is  a  New  England  and,  I 
think,  a  Connecticut  man.  If,  therefore,  when  his  kins- 
man comes  over,  you  will  write  him  a  proper  letter  on 
that  subject,  I  will  take  care  to  press  it  home." 

The  identification  of  Elihu  Yale  with  the  Church  of 
England  is  further  suggested  by  his  contributions  (sub- 
sequently to  his  early  gifts  to  Yale  College)  to  the  So- 
ciety for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel. "  In  1 7 1 7,  Elihu 
Yale,  Esq.,  offered  100  guineas  for  the  purchase  and 
building  of  a  house  for  the  Society,  to  contain  a  Chapel, 
a  Charity  School  and  a  Library,  and  ^10  per  annum 
towards  repairing  the  house  and  maintaining  the  school, 
also  books  for  the  Library  and  further  help  in  raising  a 
sufficient  fund.  Mr.  Yale  paid  the  100 guineas,  in  17 18, 
and  offered  a  loanof  ^500. "(Digest  of  S.  P.  G.  Records, 

1895,  P- 835.) 

The  cosmopolitan  charaCter  of  Governor  Yale's  life 
is  illustrated  by  the  curious  inscription  upon  his  tomb 
at  the  ancient  seat  of  the  family  in  Wrexham,  Wales : 

BORN  IN  AMERICA,  IN  EUROPE  BRED, 

IN  AFRIC  TRAVELLED,  AND  IN  ASIA  WED. 

864    ''"The  nth  day  of  June,  J.D.  1722." 

St.  John's  Church  has  sometimes  been  said  to  have  been 
the/hurth  Episcopal  Church  organized  in  Rhode  Island. 
It  is  true  that,  of  the  churches  now  existing  in  Rhode 
Island,  not  only  Trinity  Church,  Newport  (1698),  and 
St.  Paul's,  Wickford  (i  706),  but  St.  Michael's  Church, 
Bristol (i  719),  antedate  St.  John's, Providence  (1722). 
But,  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  St.  Michael's 
and  until  1 746,  Bristol  was  embraced  in  Plymouth  Co- 
lony and  was  a  part  of  Massachusetts.  It  is  thus  correCl 


440  Notes 

to  assert  that  St.  John's  (or  King's)  Church  was  the  third 
formed  in  Rhode  Island  Colony,  as  it  then  existed. 

865  ^^ Persuaded  away  from  Providence." 

"  Queen's  Chapel,"  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  was 
opened  for  divine  service  in  1734,  having  been  eredled 
by  many  men  of  chara6ler  and  substance,  who  had  be- 
come residents  there.  One  of  these  wrote  at  that  period 
to  a  friend  in  London,  concerning  a  minister:  "We 
have  a  prospeft  of  a  person  that  I  am  sure  will  be  agree- 
able and  believe  very  serviceable,  his  name  is  Brown  — 
he  is  now  a  missionary  at  Providence  in  Road  Island 
Governm't,  we  have  heard  him  preach  at  Kittry  to  ad- 
miration and  he  is  an  unexceptionable  man  in  his  Car- 
re61:ar  &  behaviour  &  I  believe  might  be  obtained  if  the 
Bishop  and  Society  would  allow  of  it. . . .  He  is  a  Pertic- 
ular  favourite  of  Dean  Berkly's.^"^"  In  August,  1 735,  a 
formal  invitation,  signed  by  David  Dunbar, John  Went- 
worth,  and  fourteen  other  gentlemen,  was  sent  to  Mr. 
Browne,  to  become  re6lor  of  the  Church  at  Portsmouth. 
At  the  same  time  Mr.  Atkinson,  the  writer  of  the  letter 
quoted  above,  wrote  again  to  his  London  friend  in  a 
strain  which  sounds  rather  incongruous  now,  when 
Providence  contains  from  ten  to  twenty  times  the  popu- 
lation of  Portsmouth:  "The  Society  I  apprehend  has 
allways  made  it  their  pra6lice  to  send  their  missionary 
where  there  was  the  greatest  Prospe6t  of  success  &  if 
they'r  made  (as  I  doubt  not  you  have  don)  sensable 
of  the  difference  of  the  places — this  being  a  seaport  the 
metropolis  of  the  Kings  GovermH  . . .  Providence  being 
a  country  town., ...  &  I  believe  were  Mr.  Brown  to  write 
his  own  sentiments  he  could  give  but  a  very  Indifferent 
carra6ler  of  the  people  there."  Mr.  Browne  took  charge 
of  Queen's  Chapel  in  1736. 

866  "  The  1 5M  of  last  month.'' 

The  date  ofthe  letter  containing  this  statement(March4, 
1754)  seems  to  show,  without  doubt,  that  John  Check- 
ley  died  February  15,1 754.  This  view  is  verified,  to  the 
extent  of  proving  that  his  death  occurred  previously  to 
March  4,  1754,  by  the  date  of  the  vote,  introduced  in 


Notes  441 

the  text,  acquainting  the  Society  with  the  event.  The 
Digest  of  S.  P.  G.  Records,  however  (p.  853),  records 
that  Mr.  Checkley  died  Jpril  15,1 754.  The  former  date 
is  the  more  probable.  No  stone  or  inscription  of  any 
kind  marks  the  traditional  resting-place  of  xhe  fourth 
re6lor  of  St.  John's,  in  the  narrow  plot  of  ground  be- 
tween the  church  and  North  Main  Street. 

867  ^^'This  difference  was  amicably  adjusted^ 

That  Mr.  Graves  had  the  grace  ofy^r^^^//«^  injuries  as 
well  z%  forgiving  them  is  shown  by  the  letter,  which, 
a  dozen  years  after  the  allaying  of  this  contention,  at 
the  time  of  Mr.  Merritt's  death  (September  25,  1770), 
he  wrote  to  the  Society.  In  it  he  records :  "That  his  par- 
ticular friend,  Mr.  Merritt,  is  lately  deceased  and  much 
lamented,  having  always  supported  a  very  am  iable  and  ex- 
emplary character."  (Proceedings  of  the  Society,  1 7  7 1 .) 

868  '"The  Rev.  Mr.  Jarvis." 

The  Rev.  Abraham  Jarvis,  afterwards  second  Bishop 
of  Connedticut. 

869  '■'The  Rev.  Mr.  Viets,  of  Simsbury^  Conne5ficut'' 
The  Rev.  Roger  Viets,  born  about  1737,  graduated  at 
Yale  College,  and  was  settled  at  Simsbury  from  1763 
to  1783,  after  which  date  he  was  transferred  to  Nova 
Scotia.  Bishop  Alexander  Viets  Griswold,  born  at  Sims- 
bury,  was  connected,  through  his  mother,  with  Mr. 
Viets. 

870  ''The  Rev.  Moses  Badger'^ 

Mr.  Badger  was  educated  at  Harvard  College,  and  after 
ordination  became  an  itinerant  missionary  of  the  S.  P.  G., 
in  New  Hampshire,  serving  from  1767  to  17 74,  when 
he  resigned  his  position  under  the  Society.  From  about 
1 780  until  his  acceptanceof  the  rectorship  of  St.  John's, 
Providence,  in  1786,  he  seems  to  have  passed  much 
time,  if  not  the  whole  period,  in  Newport,  officiating 
occasionally  at  Trinity  Church,  during  the  Revolution- 
ary interregnum,  and  performing  a  rather  large  number 
of  marriages.  At  the  Convention  held  in  Newport,  in 


442  Notes 

1790,  Mr.  Badger  was  chosen  president  and  made  a 
member  of  the  standing  committee. 

871  "  l^he  Rev.  Mr.  William  Rogers^  a  Baptist  clergy- 
man.^^ 

Dr.  Rogers  is  remembered  as  the  first  and,  for  several 
days,  the  only  student  at  Rhode  Island  College  (now 
Brown  University),  and  a  member  of  the  first  graduat- 
ing class  of  the  institution,  in  1769.  He  was  born  in 
Newport,  July  22, 1 751,  and  died  in  Philadelphia,  April 
7,  1824,  where  most  of  his  life  was  passed  as  a  pastor 
and  an  educator. 

872  ^^Eben.  Thompson." 

EbenezerThompson  was  the  elder  son  of  the  Rev.  Ebe- 
nezer  Thompson,  the  highly  respe61:ed  missionary  at 
Scituate,  Massachusetts,  from  1743  to  1775.  He  mar- 
ried Lydia  Kennicott  and  early  settled  in  Providence. 
It  was  in  the  house  of  his  son,  Edward  Thompson,  after- 
wards the  residence  of  President  Caswell,  that  the  Mac- 
Sparran  Diary  was  found. 

873  ''John  I.  Clark.'' 

John  Innes  Clark  was  for  many  years  a  very  promi- 
nent citizen  and  merchant  of  Providence,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Clark  &  Nightingale.  The  partners 
built  two  large  and  handsome  wooden  houses  on  the  east 
side  of  lower  Benefit  Street,  one  of  which  is  still  stand- 
ing as  the  residence  of  Mrs.  John  Carter  Brown  and 
the  other,  upon  the  site  of  the  present  Thomas  Hoppin 
house,  was  burned  many  years  since,  when  it  was  the  re- 
sidence of  Mrs.  Annie  Jenkins.  During  the  War  of  the 
Revolution  Mr.  Clark  was  distinguished  for  his  pub- 
lic spirit  and  patriotism,  being  appointed  major  of  the 
first  regiment  of  militia  for  Providence  County  at  the 
May  session  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1775,  and  re- 
peatedly one  of  the  "assistants."  His  name  first  appears 
on  the  records  of  King's  Church  (now  St.  John's)  when 
he  was  elected  junior  warden,  Easter  Monday,  1771. 
From  this  date  he  served  the  church  as  either  vestry- 
man or  warden  until  his  death,  in  1808,  at  which  time 


^,<^y/^^  / 


Notes  443 

he  had  discharged  the  duties  of  seniorwarden  for  twelve 
successive  vears.  In  October,  1771,  Mr.  Clark  was  one 
of  the  petitioners  to  the  General  Assembly  to  be  per- 
mitted to  raise  six  hundred  dollars  by  lottery^  to  build  a 
steeple  and  procure  a  clock  for"  the  Episcopalian  Church 
in  Providence."  He  was  present  at  the  vestry  meeting, 
August  4,  1776,  when  it  was  "Voted,  That  Mr.  John 
Graves,  our  late  pastor  [who  had  not  felt  justified  in  ab- 
staining from  using  the  prayer  for  the  King]  ,  as  he  has 
been  pleased  to  leave  this  church  destitute,  be  paid  off  for 
his  past  services,  to  the  date  of  his  letter  of  dismission." 
Mr.  Clark  was  a  very  liberal  giver  to  St.  John's  Church, 
contributing,  in  1791,  ;^36  towards  the  organ  and,  in 
1805,  one  thousand  dollars  towards  the  "permanent 
fund."  He  died  at  Brattleboro,  Vermont,  being  buried 
in  the  southeast  part  of  St.  John's  church-yard,  where  his 
tomb  has  been  lately  restored  by  his  great-grandchil- 
dren. The  name  has  been  sometimes  spelled  Clarke^  but 
apparently  more  frequently  Clark.  Mr.  Clark's  portrait, 
by  Trumbull  (in  the  possession  of  Colonel  Delancey 
Kane),  is  shown  in  this  work. 

^^Mr.  James  IVilson" 

Mr.  Wilson  was  an  Irishman,  and  possessed  great  power 
over  men,  being  a  very  eloquent  preacher.  In  theology 
he  was  an  Arminian,  or  disciple  of  John  Wesley,  rather 
than  a  Calvinist,  as  were  then  most  of  his  Congrega- 
tional brethren.  With  perfect  simplicity  of  character, 
unaffe6led  devotion,  and  an  earnest  love  for  the  souls 
of  his  people,  he  left  a  profound  impression  upon  his 
church  and  upon  the  community  at  large.  In  the  re- 
vival of  180^.,  Mr.  V'xison  was  the  means  of  adding 
to  his  church  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  members, 
while,  during  his  whole  ministry  of  forty-six  years,  about 
eight  hundred  made  profession  of  Christ,  and  more  than 
a  thousand  couples  were  married  by  him. 

"  John  H.  Greene" 

John  Holden  Greene,  father  of  the  late  well-known 
judge  and  poet,  Albert  Gorton  Greene,"^'  was  not  only 
a  "carpenter"  and  "master-builder,"  as  here  indicated, 


444  Notes 

but  an  architect  of  reputation  and  the  designer  of  the 
present  St.  John's  Church.  Mr.  Greene  was  also  the 
architect  of  the  existing  exceedingly  tasteful  stone  edi- 
fice, built  for  the  First  Congregational  (Unitarian)  So- 
ciety, on  Benefit  Street  in  1 8 1 6,thegraceful  "Dorr  Man- 
sion," on  the  same  street,  the  Dexter  Asylum,  and  a 
counterpart,  in  Savannah,  Georgia,  of  the  beautiful 
Renaissance  building  of  the  First  Congregational  So- 
ciety in  Providence  mentioned  above. 

876  ''Miss  Fairchildy 

Miss  Ann  Fairchild  was  a  daughter  of  Major  and  Bath- 
sheba  (Palmer)  Fairchild,  who  were  married  in  Trinity 
Parish,  Newport,  March  12,  1729.  "Major"  was  Mr. 
Fairchild's  Christian  name,  not  a  military  title.  In  an 
old  deed,  he  is  styled  a  cooper.  But  later  he  engaged  with 
his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Bowler,  in  commercial  enterprises, 
perhaps  in  privateering.  The  "Major  Fairchild"  who, 
in  06tober,  1764,  was  married,  in  Trinity  Parish,  to 
Godfrey  Malbone's  daughter  Catharine  (born  06to- 
ber  21, 1737),  was  undoubtedly  abrother  of  Mrs.  Bow- 
ler. i^Annah  of  Trinity  Churchy  Newport^  pp.47,  131.) 
Mr.  Bowler  lived,  in  1787,  two  years  before  his  death, 
at  the  "  Queen's  Head."  (^Id.^  p.  108.)  He  and  his  wife 
were  both  twice  painted  by  Copley,  the  two  portraits 
of  Mrs.  Bowler  being  still  in  existence. 

877  ''His  age  at  the  time  of  his  death  I  have  not  been 
able  to  ascertain^ 

Mr.  Bowler  died  in  Providence,  in  1 789, and  was  buried 
in  the  church-yard  of  St.  John's.  There  also  are  found 
the  graves  of  a  number  of  the  other  old  families  con- 
ne£ted  with  the  parish:  Andrews,  Allen,  Blodget,Bowen, 
Bradford,  Butler,  Dr.  John  Chace,  John  Carter,  Craw- 
ford, Carlile,  Creighton,  DeBlois,  Dexter,  Dunn,  Far- 
num,  Godfrey,  Gurney,  Halsey,  Harding,  Jenkins, 
Jones,  Larned,  Lippitt,  Mumford,  Merritt,  Olney, 
Paget,  Russell,  Rhodes,  Sabin,  Stewart,  Sterry,  Thomp- 
son, and  (John)  Updike.  {Notes  on  Saint  fohn's  Church 
\_formerly  King's  Church~\  in  Providence.,  by  D.  Berke- 
ley Updike,  1905,  p.  10.) 


Notes  445 

^^  A  petition  was  forwarded  to  the  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don:' 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Humphreys,  secretary  of  the  S.  P  G.  from 
17 16  to  1739,  in  his  Historical  Account  of  the  Society  to 
1^28  (pp.  331-3)5  gives  the  following  somewhat  fuller 
account  of  the  circumstances  attending  the  founda- 
tion of  the  Church  in  Bristol:  "The  chief  Inhabitants 
of  Bristol,  in  the  year  1720,  wrote  very  earnest  Let- 
ters to  the  Bishop  of  London  and  to  the  Society,  for  a 
minister  of  the  Church  of  England  and  promised  to 
build  a  Church.  Before  they  had  an  answer  from  the 
Society,  they  proceeded  to  get  contributions  to  build 
one. . . .  The  Rev.  Mr.  Orem  was  sent  missionary  there 
in  i'j22.  When  he  arrived  here,  he  found  the  Out- 
side of  the  Church  and  the  Steeple  only  finished.  The 
people  received  him  with  great  Kindness  and  there 
seemed  to  be  a  general  disposition  in  the  Inhabitants  to 
have  the  Church  of  England  Worship  established  here. 
Tho'  the  Church  was  not  floor'd  nor  the  Walls  plais- 
tered,  the  People  were  zealous  to  have  Divine  Service 
performed  in  it.  Which  was  done,  and  Forms  and 
Benches  were  laid  in  it  on  Saturday  Night  for  the  Au- 
ditory; and  a  large  Congregation,  between  2  &  300 
Persons,  came  there,  not  all  Inhabitants  of  Bristol,  but 
a  great  many  from  Swansea,  Tiverton  and  the  neigh- 
bouring Towns. . . .  But,  about  a  year  after,  the  Gover- 
nor of  New  York,  who  was  acquainted  with  his  Merit, 
invited  him  to  come  to  New  York  and  offered  him  a 
commission  of  Chaplain  of  King's  Forces  there,  which 
Mr.  Orem  accepted  of. . . .  The  Rev.  Mr.  Usher  was 
appointed  a  Missionary  there,  in  the  year  following." 
The  "Missionary  Roll"  (Digest  of  S.  P.  G.  Records, 
PP-  853?  854)  gives  the  time  of  the  Rev.  James  Orem's 
settlement  at  Bristol  as  172 1-2,  and  that  of  the  Rev. 
John  Usher  as  1723-75.  That  the  date  1722,  given 
in  the  text  as  the  time  of  Mr.  Usher's  appointment  to 
Bristol,  is  at  least  a  year  too  early,  is  shown  also  by  the 
statement  of  Hawkins  {Missions  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land^ p.  178),  that  the  Rev.  Daniel  Browne,  companion 
of  Samuel  Johnson  and  Timothy  Cutler  in  their  voyage 


446  Notes 

to  England  for  Orders,  was  appointed  missionary  to 
Bristol  (New  England),  in  what  the  context  shows 
to  have  been  the  early  part  of  the  year  1723.  It  could 
not  have  been  until  subsequently  to  Mr.  Browne's  death 
from  the  small-pox,  soon  after  his  ordination,  that  Mr. 
Usher,  a  resident  of  New  England,  already  ordained, 
was  commissioned  in  his  place.  Johnson  and  Cutler  did 
not  return  to  America  until  the  summer  of  1723. 

879  '"T/zi?  decision  of  the  re^lorT 

The  Digest  of  S.  P.  G.  Records  (p.  46)  shows  that  a  much 
more  important  matter  than  "these  weighty  questions" 
was  at  this  period  engaging  the  attention  of  Mr.  Usher. 
From  Bristol,  he  reported,  in  1730,  that  "sundry  ne- 
groes "had  made  "application  for  baptism,that  were  able 
to  render  a  very  good  account  of  the  hope  that  was  in 
them."  But  he  was  "not  permitted  to  comply  with  their 
requests  . .  .  \i€\n<^  forbid  by  their  masters"  In  the  same 
year,  however,  he  succeeded  in  baptizing  three  adult 
Indians,  and  later  on  the  Bristol  congregation  included 
"about  30  Indians  and  Negroes,"  most  of  whom  joined 
"in  the  Publick  Service  very  decently." 

880  "^/  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  eighty  years y 
The  "Missionary  Roll,"  in  the  Digest  of  S.  P.  G.  Re- 
cords (p.  854),  gives  the  time  of  Mr.  Usher's  birth  as 
"about  1689."  As  he  died  April  30,  1775,  he  must,  ac- 
cording to  this  statement,  have  lived  to  about  his  eighty- 
seventh  year,  some  seven  years  longer  than  is  recorded 
in  the  text.  Dr.  Batchelder  also,  in  his  History  of  the 
Eastern  Diocese  (Vol.  ii,  manuscript),  declares  that  Mr. 
Usher  was  eighty-six  at  the  time  of  his  death.  It  is  to 
be  noted  that  these  declarations  require  that  he  must 
have  attained  the  exceptional  age  of  thirty  at  the  date 
of  his  graduation,  in  17 19  (at  Harvard  College),  and 
that  of //^z'r/y-^Z'r^^atthe  time  of  his  ordination, in  1722. 
The  statement  of  the  text  is,  however,  the  more  pro- 
bable, and  must  have  been  the  tradition  existing  among 
his  dire6l  descendants,  still  living  when  the  sketch  was 
written  at  Bristol. 


Notes  447 

88 1  ^^  There  were  never  any  more  services  held  in  the 
church  from  that  time.'' 

It  is  interesting  to  notice,  however,  in  this  connection 
that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Caner,^^"  formerly  recSlor  of 
King's  Chapel,  Boston,  Massachusetts,  was  appointed 
to  Bristol,  1776-82,  by  the  S.  P.  G.,  to  show  its  regard 
for  "the  Father  of  the  American  Clergy."  (Digest,  p. 
853.)  Dr.  Batchelder  in  his  History  of  the  Eastern  Diocese 
(Vol.  ii,  manuscript)  declares  that  Dr.  Caner,  early  in 
1777  or  late  in  1776,  returned  to  this  country  and  took 
charge  of  the  Church  in  Bristol^  alluding  to  a  record  of  the 
payment  of  his  salary  there.  (See  Abstracts  of  Proceed- 
ings of  the  Society  in  Appendix  B.)  It  appears  probable, 
however,  that  the  appointment  was  a  sinecure. 

882  "y^  beautiful  Gothic  struSfure." 

This  edifice,  built  of  wood  in  1833,  was  burned  on  the 
night  of  December  5,  1858.  Immediately  afterwards 
the  present  (1907)  church  of  brown  stone  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  about  thirty  thousand  dollars, being  t\ie  fourth 
standing  upon  the  spot  since  1722. 

883  '^^  Instituted  in  March^  1834." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Bristed  appears,  in  the  journal  of  the 
Rhode  Island  Convention  of  1 830,  as  re6lor  of  St.  Mi- 
chael's Church,  Bristol,  Bishop  Griswold  being  men- 
tioned in  that  capacity  for  the  last  time  in  1829. 

884  '■'■George  Taylor^ 

Mr.  Taylor  kept  his  school  in  a  room  of  the  County  House^ 
in  Providence,  being  required  in  return  for  this  favour 
to  ere6l  a  handsome  sun-dial  in  front  of  the  building, 
"both  for  ornament  and  use,"  and  to  keep  the  glass  of 
the  house  "  in  constant  good  repair."  (Rhode  Island  Co- 
lonial Records,  iv.  511.)  Beside  being  school-master,  he 
was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  married  many  parties. 
In  1757-8  and  1765-6,  Mr.  Taylor  was  the  junior 
warden  of  King's  Church  (now  St.  John's).  An  an- 
cient silver  paten,  belonging  to  the  parish,  was  his  pious 
gift,  and  is  inscribed:  "An  Oblation  of  G.  T.  School- 


448  Notes 

master  for  the  Use  of  the  Altar  in  the  Church  of  Eng-I 
land,  at  Providence,  N.  E.,  1748." 

885  ''Mr.  Robert  Hamilton^ 
Under  the  date  of  06tober  8, 1751,  Dr.  MacSparran 
recorded  in  his  Diary ^  "  Mr.  Robert  Hamilton  in  his  ■ 
way  to  New  York  lodged  here,"  mentioning  his  de- 
parture also  the  next  day.  Mr.  Hamilton  is  undoubt- 
edly identical  with  the  bearer  of  the  letter,  referred  to : 
in  the  text.  Strabane,  his  residence  in  Ireland,  is  in 
County  Tyrone,  about  twenty  miles  south  of  London- 
derry and  nearly  equally  distant  from  Dungiven,  the  | 
place  where  the  Do6lor  appears  to  have  passed  his  youth. 

886  ''One  Mr.  Smith." 
The  Rev.  William  Guy,  previously  missionary  at  Nar- 
ragansett,  was  the  first  missionary  of  the  S.  P.  G.  to ' 
visit  the  Bahamas,  remaining  there  two  months  in  I  731,' 
but  the  Rev.  William  Smith  was  the  first  to  be  perma- 
nently stationed  there.  He  arrived  at  Nassau  on  Oc- 1 
tober  20,  1733,  and  continued  in  the  islands  until  his 
death,  in  November,  1 74 1 .  Governor  Fitzwilliam  wrote 
concerning  him,  in  1735:  "The  abilities,  life  and  good 
behaviour  of  Mr.  Smith  .  .  .  justly  entitle  him  to  the 
favour  of  all  good  men  among  us." 

887  "One  Mr.  Carter,  an  EngUfliman." 
The  Rev.  Robert  Carter  was  settled  at  Nassau,  Har- 
bour Island,  and  Eleuthera  from  1749  to  1765,  when 
he  resigned.  He  represented  this  mission  as  being  of : 
greater  extent  and  having  more  pastoral  duties  to  be 
performed  in  it  than  any  other  under  the  Society's  care. 

888  "  'TwoMiJJionaries^  who  are  Settled  at  the  Towns  of  1 
Savannah  and  Augufiay 
Bartholemew  Zouberbuhler  was  the  missionary  of  the 
Society  at  Savannah  from  1746  to  1766.  He  was  born 
in  St.  Gall,  Switzerland,  educated  at  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  and  ordained  by  the  Bishop  of  London  about 
1745.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Mr.  Zouberbuhler 
succeeded  (but  not  immediately),  as  missionary  of  the 


Notes  449 

S.  p.  G.  in  Savannah,  John  Benjamin  Wesley,  subse- 
quently the  founder  of  Methodism. 

The  missionary  at  Augusta,  at  the  date  here  referred 
to  by  Dr.  MacSparran,was  Jonathan  Copp,  who  was 
born  at  New  London,  Conne£licut,  educated  at  Yale 
College,  and  ordained  to  the  diaconate  and  the  priest- 
hood by  the  Bishop  of  London,  in  1750.  He  was  set- 
tled at  Augusta,  from  1750  to  1756,  when  he  resigned. 

889  "Two  Clergymen y  who  are  the  Society's  itinerant 
MiJJionaries  here.'' 

The  Rev.  Clement  Hall,  ordained  in  1743,  travelled 
as  a  missionary  of  the  Society,  in  Chowan  County  and 
about  Edenton,  North  Carolina,  from  1744  to  1759, 
the  year  of  his  death.  While  a  magistrate  of  the  colony, 
he  had  previously  officiated  for  several  years  as  a  lay 
reader.  After  taking  Orders,  he  gave  himself  up  to  a 
life  of  almost  incessant  labour,  being  the  only  clergy- 
man for  hundreds  of  miles  of  country.  Several  of  his 
congregations  were  too  large  to  assemble  except  un- 
der the  shade  of  trees.  During  the  fifteen  years  of  his 
ministry  Mr.  Hall  baptized  ten  thousand  persons, 
ninety-seven  of  them  in  a  single  day.  The  other  mis- 
sionary referred  to  by  the  Do61:or  was  James  Moir,  a 
North  Carolinian,  who  ministered  at  Wilmington  and 
in  the  valley  of  the  river  Neuse,  from  1740  to  1765, 
when  he  resigned. 

890  "Mr.  Sturgeon,  their  catechift." 

The  Rev.  William  Sturgeon  was  educated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege, New  Haven,  Conneilicut,  and  was  settled  at  Phila- 
delphia from  1747  to  1 762,  dying  November  5,  1772. 
He  was  appointed  catechist  to  the  negroes  in  Philadel- 
phia on  the  representation  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jenney  that 
there  was  a  great  and  daily  increasing  number  of  them 
in  the  city  who  would  with  joy  attend  upon  instrudlion. 

891  ^^ Reverend  Dr.  Jenny." 

The  Rev.  Robert  Jenney,  LL.D.,  was  born  in  1687. 
From  1 710  to  1 714,  he  was  a  chaplain  in  the  royal 
navy.  Dr.  Jenney  was  a  missionary  of  the  Society  in 


450  Notes 

Philadelphia  In  17 14  and  1715,  being  transferred  to 
New  York  in  the  latter  year.  After  serving  in  that  city, 
at  Rye,  and  at  Hempstead  until  1742,  he  resigned  his 
connexion  with  the  S.  P.  G.  and  returned  to  Philadel- 
phia as  the  commissary  of  the  Bishop  of  London,  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  re£tor  of  Christ  Church.  He  died 
January  5,  1762. 

892  "^  venerable  lady^  who  was  a  niece  of  Dr.  Mac- 
Sparran^ 

This  was  Mrs.  Roswell  Saltonstall,  eldest  daughter  of 
Matthew  Stewart  and  his  wife,  Abigail,  a  daughter  of 
William  Gardiner,  of  Narragansett,  a  brother  of  Mrs. 
MacSparran.  She  was  born  in  March,  1 744-5,  and  con- 
sequently must  have  attained  the  age  of  about  ninety- 
six.  Dr.  MacSparran,  under  date  of  March  loth  in  that 
year,  records,  in  his  Diary ^  baptizing  her  by  the  name 
of  Elizabeth,  remarking  that  she  had  been  "born  dur- 
ing our  stay  in  his  [Mr.  Stewart's]  house."  Mrs.  Lee,  in 
her  account  of  her  horseback  journey  to  Connecticut, 
in  1 79 1  (see  Appendix  F),  speaks  of  passing  the  day 
with  the  Saltonstalls,  her  cousins,  at  New  London.  Dr. 
Hallam,  in  a  part  of  this  letter  omitted  in  the  text,  says 
that  Mrs.  John  Handy,  of  Newport,  was  a  sister  of  Mrs. 
Saltonstall,  as  was  also  Mrs.  John  Robinson,  of  Nar- 
ragansett. 

893  "Afzjj  Mary  L.  Hillhouse,  of  Sachem's  Wood." 
MaryLucasHillhouse  was  a  daughter  of  the  Honourable 
James  Hillhouse,  of  New  Haven,  treasurer  of  Yale  Col- 
lege and  United  States  Senator,  and  a  sister  of  James 
Abraham  Hillhouse,  poet,  and  Augustus  Lucas  Hill- 
house,  who  lived  for  about  forty  years  in  France.  In 
her  letter  (July  21,1 845)  to  Mr.  Updike,  she  remarks : 
"If  you  should  ever  feel  any  disposition  to  know  more 
of  my  Brother  (James  Abraham),  you  will  find  a  brief 
biographical  sketch,  drawn  up  by  the  Rev.  William  I. 
Kip  (subsequently  Bishop  of  California)  in  Rufus  Gris- 
wold's  Poets  of  Jmerica."  In  a  slightly  later  communi- 
cation. Miss  Hillhouse  refers  to  "a  valuable  Italian 
Bible,  which  belonged  to  the  same  gentleman  [Augus- 


Notes  451 

tus  Lucas,  Huguenot  emigrant] ,"  adding, "It  was  left, 
with  a  cloth  of  gold  waistcoat  of  her  grandfather's,  by 
Mrs.  James  A.  Hillhouse  (granddaughter  of  Augustus 
Lucas),tomybrotherAugustusZ«c^^Hillhouse."  Later, 
in  the  same  letter,  she  makes  the  following  rather  cu- 
rious, although  doubtless  just,  remarks  upon  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Peters's  General  History  of  ConneSiicut:  "  I  was 
a  little  surprised  to  see  Peters's  History  of  ConneSiicut 
quoted  in  your  Historical  Colle61:ions.  In  our  part  of 
the  world,  it  is  regarded  much  such  an  authority  as  Gul-  ■ 
liver  s  Travels.  I  remember,  many,  many  years  since, 
Peters  corresponded  with  our  Episcopal  clergyman,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hubbard,  who  used  to  show  the  letters,  as  the 
amusing  produ61:ions  of  a  half  crazy  man.  In  my  child- 
hood, I  recolle6l  being  entertained  by  the  extravagance 
of  some  of  his  stories.  For  example,  he  says  New  Haven 
contained  300  squares,  40  of  which  were  built  with 
houses  of  stone  and  brick,  5  yards  apart.  New  Haven 
contains  9  squares,  and  it  is,  to  this  day,  very  much  a 
wooden  city." 

894  ''About  1700." 

As  the  Revocation  of  the  Edi6l  of  Nantes  occurred  in 
1685,  it  is  probable  that  Augustus  Lucas  took  refuge 
in  America  at  a  considerably  earlier  time  than  1 700. 
He  settled  in  Newport,  where  his  first  wife  died  in 
1698.  (Mason's  Annals  of  Trinity  Church.,  Newport^ 
p.  35.)  The  name  of  Mr.  Lucas's  daughter  after  her  mar- 
riage was  Johnston  rather  than  Johnson,  as  given  in 
the  text.  A  notice  of  Madame  Johnston's  second  hus- 
band, Matthew  Robinson,  Esq.,  will  be  found  in  Chap- 
ter XIII. 

895  ''Mr.  Thomas  Clap  was  my  Scholar ,  when  I  came 
fir  ft  into  thefe  Parts." 

Dr.  MacSparran  here  refers  to  his  original  visit  in  Ame- 
rica, when  he  arrived  at  Boston  in  June,  171 8,  and  is 
known  to  have  soon  after  repaired  to  the  vicinity  of  Ply- 
mouth, as  Scituate  might  readily  have  been  considered. 
He  was  then  twenty-four  years  of  age  and  young  Clap 
was  fifteen.  The  fa£t  that,  at  that  period,  the  tutor  was 


452  Notes 

a  Presbyterian  may  have  rendered  him  more  accepta- 
ble to  the  household  of  Stephen  Clap  than  if  the  en- 
gagement had  been  after  his  conformance  to  the  Church 
of  England.  The  supposition,  sometimes  entertained, 
that  Thomas  Clap  was  a  pupil  of  Mr.  MacSparran 
while  he  was  living  at  Narragansett  is  erroneous,  in- 
asmuch as  he  was  already  a  junior  in  Harvard  College 
when  the  missionary  arrived  in  Rhode  Island,  in  1721. 
Several  of  the  dates  in  the  original  note  concerning 
President  Clap  do  not  agree  with  other  accounts,  es- 
pecially that  of  his  death,  which  appears  to  have  been 
1767.  ("  Whitefield's  time"  also  is  not  given  quite  ac- 
curately.) Thomas  Clap  married,  in  1727,  a  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Whiting,  his  predecessor  in  the  pas- 
torate of  the  church  in  Windham,  Connedlicut.  Later 
he  married  Mary  (Haynes)  Lord  Saltonstall,  widow  of 
Roswell,  a  son  of  Governor  Gurdon  Saltonstall. 

896  ''^Ebenezer  Punderson^  of  Groton." 
Dr.MacSparran  mentions,  in  his  ZJ/^ry,  among  the  clergy 
present  at  the  convention  at  Newport,  June  12,  1745, 
"  Mr.  Punderson."  He  also  notes,  Septemberi  8th,  in  the 
same  year,  "Mrs.  Punderson  and  her  Son  came  and 
lodged  here."  Mr.  Punderson  was  a  missionary  of  the 
S.  P.  G.,  in  Connecticut  and  New  York,  from  1734  to 
1764,  in  September  of  which  year  he  died.  In  addition 
to  the  places  mentioned  in  the  body  of  this  work,  he 
ministered,  in  Connecticut,  at  Brimfield,  Middletown, 
Stafford,  Simsbury,  Northford,  and  West  Haven.  The 
Rev.  Ephraim  Punderson,  who  lived  in  western  New 
York  and  Cleveland,  Ohio,  from  1850  to  1880,  is 
believed  to  have  been  a  descendant  of  Ebenezer  Pun- 
derson. 

897  ^^Narragansett  Pacers." 

An  old  manuscript,  unsigned  but  supposed  to  be  in  the 
handwritingof  Daniel  Updike,  of  East  Greenwich, gives 
a  somewhat  different  account  of  the  origin  of  Narra- 
gansett pacers  from  that  of  Mr.  Isaac  Peace  Hazard : 
^'The  first  pacing  horse  was  called 'Old  Snip'  and  he 
was  found  on  old  Governor  William  Robinson's  farm. 


Notes  453 

in  Point  Judith,  where  Christopher,  James  and  Ben  lived. 
Horses  were  then  luild  (?)  in  Point  Judith  and  he  was 
found  among  them.  Where  he  came  from,  no  one  knew. 
He  was  the  sire  of  the  Narragansett  Pacers.  The  wild 
horses  were  Jive  pound  apiece^  and  you  may  pick  out. 
They  were  well-formed  forward  and  narrow  behind." 
This  tale  o?  wild  horses  in  Point  Judith  reminds  one  of 
the  similar  story  of  wild  Spanish  geyiets  (or  jennets),  in 
the  New  Forest,  in  England,  said  to  be  descended  from 
those  which  swam  ashore  there  after  the  destru6tion  of 
the  Spanish  Armada  in  1588. 

'■'■Snowsy 

A  vessel  somewhat  like  a  bark,  with  a  mainmast  and 
a  foremast  similar  to  those  of  a  ship,  and  a  third  small 
one,  very  close  behind  the  mainmast,  carrying  a  single 
fore-and-aft  sail,  or  trysail.  This  method  of  rigging  was 
somewhat  common  in  old  times,  but  is  not  now  in  use. 

"Mr.  Morrel,  their  Minijier.'' 
The  Rev.  William  Morell  came  to  New  England  in 
1623,  with  Captain  Robert  Gorges,  taking  up  his  resi- 
dence at  Wessagusset  (now  Weymouth),  on  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  where  Gorges  planned  to  establish  a  co- 
lony, as  "Lieutenant-general  and  Governor  of  New 
England."  Upon  the  abandonment  of  the  project,  Mr. 
Morrell  remained  awhile  in  the  country,  but,  in  the 
midst  of  unfavourable  surroundings,  does  not  appear  to 
have  attempted  to  exercise  his  clerical  functions.  The 
results  of  his  observations  upon  the  state  of  the  Colonies, 
the  produ6lions  and  resources  of  the  region,  and  the 
manners,  customs,  and  government  of  the  natives,  he 
wrought  into  a  Latin  poem  entitled  "Nova  Anglia." 

'■^Ten  Churches  of  England  in  that  Province." 
King's  Chapel,  Christ  Church,  and  Trinity  Church, 
Boston;  Queen  Ann's  Chapel,  Newbury;  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Newburyport;  St.  Michael's  Church,  Mar- 
blehead;Christ  Church,  Braintree;  St. Andrew's  Church, 
Scituate,  with  a  chapel  at  Marshfield,  and  churches  at 
Salem,  Hopkinton,  and  Taunton, — twelve  in  all, — ap- 


454  Notes 

pear  to  have  been  standing  in  Massachusetts  at  the 
date  of  Dr.  MacSparran's  letter. 

901  "/«  Rhode-IJland  Colony^ . .  .Jix  churches." 

In  addition  to  the  four  well-known  colonial  churches 
in  Rhode  Island,  at  Newport,  Narragansett,  Bristol, and 
Providence,  there  were  standing,  at  the  period  of  Dr. 
MacSparran's  letter,  also  houses  of  worship  at  Cowe- 
set  and  Charlestown  (Westerly  Church). 

902  "  T'hat  town  called  London  Derry." 

Five  ships,  containing  about  one  hundred  families,  ar- 
rived in  Boston,  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  in  the  au- 
tumn in  1 7 1 8,  with  the  intention  of  making  a  new  set- 
tlement in  America.  These  people  were  the  descend- 
ants of  a  colony  of  Scottish  Presbyterians  who  had  been 
living  for  about  a  century  in  Ulster.  In  the  spring  of 
1 7 19,  sixteen  families  of  these  established  themselves 
on  a  tradl  of  good  land  in  New  Hampshire,  above  Ha- 
verhill,Massachusetts, called  A^w//?^/^,  on  account  of  the 
great  number  of  chestnut  and  walnut  trees  to  be  found 
there.  Two  or  three  years  later,  their  new  town  was 
incorporated  under  the  name  of  Londonderry^  it  being 
that  of  the  chief  city  of  their  former  home  in  Ireland. 
(Belknap's  History  of  New  Hampshire^  ii.  30-33.)  Dr. 
MacSparran,  in  his  Diary^  under  date  of  September  15, 
1 75 1,  speaks  of  a  woman  of  his  parish  who  was  a  daugh- 
ter of"  Robert  Martin, of  Nutfield,  ^//(^^Londonderry." 
The  Do61:or  may  well  have  known  Martin  before  either 
of  them  left  Ireland. 

903  "AJmall  Hiftory  of  the  Englifh  Plantations.'^ 

It  may  be  that  this  history,  if  ever  written,  and  that  of 
the  Narragansett  country,  alluded  to  in  the  Note  con- 
cerning Dr.  MacSparran's  will,  were  among  the  pa- 
pers sent  to  Dr.  Thompson  at  Scituate,  and  inadver- 
tently destroyed,  before  the  Diary  was  discovered. 

904  '■'■A false  Charge  in  my  Touth." 

What  the  specific  accusation  was,  made  at  Bristol  to 
prevent  young  MacSparran  from  being  settled  as  pas- 


Notes  455 

tor  there,  has  not  transpired.  It  appears  to  have  related 
to  some  unguarded  youthful  language  or  condu6l,  while 
he  was  previously  tarrying  near  Plymouth.  It  is,  how- 
ever, a  matter  of  record  at  Bristol,  that  a  committee, 
especially  appointed  to  investigate  the  charge,  reported 
so  favourably  that  Mr.  MacSparran  was  exonerated  in 
town-meeting  by  a  vote  unanimous  but  for  a  single  ex- 
ception. The  transparently  sincere  declaration  of  the 
ageing  clergyman,  after  thirty-three  years  had  elapsed, 
as  to  the  falsity  of  the  charge,  and  his  long  blameless  life 
at  Narragansett,  sufficiently  dispose  of  the  aspersion. 

905  "A^(?/  more  than  two  or  three  copies  of  his  America 
Dissedled  are  known  to  he  extant ^ 

A  copy  of  this  most  rare  work  is  now  to  be  found  in 
the  John  Carter  Brown  Library  of  Brown  University, 
at  Providence. 

906  ''^'The  ■pictures  of  Dr.  MacSparran  and  wife.'' 
The  portraits  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  MacSparran,  since  the 
writing  of  Mrs.  Allen's  letter,  have  been  removed  from 
Gardinerandseparated  from  each  other,  that  of  the  Doc- 
tor being  now  in  the  possession  of  Bowdoin  College, 
Brunswick,  Maine,  and  that  of  his  wife  being  deposited 
in  the  gallery  of  the  Museum  of  Fine  Arts,  in  the  city 
of  Boston. 

907  "//  was  painted  by  S??iibert.'" 

John Smibert  (or  Smybert)  was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scot- 
land, about  1684.  After  studying  painting  in  the  aca- 
demy of  Sir  JamesThornhill, in  London, hepassed  three 
years  in  Italy.  Subsequently  to  his  return  to  England  (and, 
as  it  appears,  soon  afterwards)  Bishop  (then  Dean) 
Berkeley  induced  him  to  join  in  his  benevolent  scheme 
of  carrying  arts  and  letters  to  the  New  World,  the  party 
landing  at  Newport,  in  January,  1729.  This  proje6l, 
however,  proving  a  failure,  Smibert  shortly  repaired 
to  Boston,  and  established  himself  there  as  a  portrait- 
painter,  marrying  in  1730.  His  mostimportant  work, the 
painting  of  the  group.  Bishop  Berkeley  and  his  Family, 
presented  to  Yale  College  in  1808,  is  said  to  have  been 


456  Notes 

sketched  during  the  voyage  from  England,  but  could  not 
have  been  actually  executed  until  considerably  later,  as 
the  child  in  the  arms  of  Mrs.  Berkeley  was  not  born  until 
several  months  after  her  arrival  in  this  country.  One  of 
the  figures  in  this  pi61:ure  is  that  of  the  painter  himself, 
another,  doubtless,  that  of  Peter  Harrison  and  a  third,  pro- 
bably, that  of  the  Rev.  Arthur  Browne.'''' '"'  Other  por- 
traits by  Smibert,  beside  those  of  the  MacSparrans,  re- 
presented Jonathan  Edwards,  Judge  Edmund  Quincy, 
Governor  John  Endicott,  and  Peter  Eaneuil.  Indeed, 
Gulian  C.  Verplanck  remarks  of  him  that,  although  he 
was  not  an  artist  of  the  first  rank, yet  "the  best  portraits 
which  we  have  of  the  eminent  magistrates  and  divines 
of  New  England  and  New  York,  who  lived  between 
1725  and  1 75 1  (the  year  of  Smibert's  death),  are  from 
his  pencil."  It  is  said  that  from  his  fine  copy  of  Van- 
dyke's Cardinal Bentivog/io^Copley ^TrumhuW^znd  All- 
ston  caught  their  first  ideas  of  colour  and  drawing.  In 
the  chancel  of  the  first  Trinity  Church,  Boston  (con- 
secrated April  15,  1735),  were  paintings,  considered 
very  beautiful  in  their  day,  from  the  brush  of  John 
Smibert.  (Chester's  Trinity  Church  in  the  City  of  Boston^ 
p.  10.)  Two  little  heads  of  cherubs,  preserved  in  the 
sacristy  of  the  present  Trinity  Church  (1907)  and 
known  to  be  by  him,  are  supposed  to  have  been  taken 
from  these  old  chancel  decorations.  It  has  been  as- 
serted that  Smibert,  although  a  Scotchman  by  birth, 
was  of  Duch  extra6lion  and  that,  beginning  his  career 
as  a  house-painter,  he  later  worked  in  London  as  a 
coach-painter  and,  in  time,  as  a  copyist  of  old  pictures, 
being  a  born  artist  and  struggling  hard  to  get  a  chance 
of  doing  better  work  than  that  which  at  first  came  to 
him.  (Cyril  Davenport's  Mezzotints^  London,  1904, 
pp.  1 2 1-2.)  Horace  Walpole,  in  his  Anecdotes  of  Paint- 
ings chara6lerizes  Smibert  as  "a  silent  and  modest  man, 
who  abhorred  xkiQ  finesse  of  some  of  his  profession  and 
was  enchanted  with  a  plan  that  promised  him  tranquil- 
lity and  an  honest  subsistence  in  a  healthful,  elysian 
climate."  Some  indications  point  at  the  possibility  that 
Smibert,  who  was  forty-four  years  of  age  when  he  emi- 


Notes  457 

grated  from  England  in  company  with  Dean  Berkeley, 
had  already  lived  for  some  time  in  America. 

Mrs.  Allen,  a  granddaughter  of  Dr.  Sylvester  Gar- 
diner (who  must  have  been  intimately  acquainted  with 
the  painter),  and  herself  the  owner  of  the  MacSparran 
portraits,  remarks,  in  a  letter  of  the  date  of  December  4, 
1845  (about  sixty  years  nearer  than  the  present  to  the 
period  under  consideration),"  The  portraits  were  painted 
by  Smibert,the  master  of  Copley.  He  was  the  first  Ame- 
rican painter  who  went  to  Rome  to  study  the  fine  arts. 
He  returned  from  England  in  the  same  ship  with  Bi- 
shop Berkeley."  It  is  noticeable,  too,  that  Mr.  Ver- 
planck,  as  quoted  above,  makes  the  beginning  of  his 
American  career  at  least  as  early  as  1725,  four  years 
anterior  to  his  final  arrival  with  Berkeley.  Smibert  ap- 
pears to  have  repaired  to  Boston  almost  immediately 
after  landing  at  Newport  and  to  have  established  him- 
self there  in  his  profession,  as  if  in  a  familiar  place, 
where  he  may  have  already  been  acquainted  with  the 
lady  whom  he  shortly  married. 

908  "  The  Grand  Duke  of  Florence.'" 

The  Grand  Duke  of  Tuscany  from  1723  to  1737,  the 
last  of  the  Medici  family  to  bear  that  title,  was  the  plea- 
sure-loving Giovan  Gastone  and,  probably,  the  one  re- 
ferred to  in  the  note,  if,  as  seems  likely, Smibert's  tradi- 
tional three  years  in  Italy  were  immediately  before  his 
crossing  the  sea  in  company  with  Berkeley.  The  Czar 
of  Russia,  the  maker  of  the  strange  present,  must  have 
been  Peter  the  Great,  who  died,  after  a  long  reign,  in 
1725,  and  was  succeeded  by  Catharine. 

909  "  Die  MartiSj . . .  triceftmo  Jeptimo'* 

In  the  original  translation  of  the  Latin  of  Dr.  MacSpar- 
ran's  diploma  from  Oxford  University,  "die  Martis" 
is  rendered  "in  March"  the  whole  clause  reading,  "in 
March,  to  wit,  on  the  fifth  day  of  April," — a  somewhat 
confused  date.  It  should,  however,  plainly  be  "  on  Tues- 
day," that  having  been  anciently  considered  "the  day 
of  Mars,"  or  the  day  of  which  the  planet  Mars  was 
the  regent,  in  accordance  with  the  French  name  of  the 


458  Notes 

third  day  of  the  week,  Mard'i.  The  faft  that  the  5th 
of  April,  1737,  did  occur  on  a  Tuesday  is  confirma- 
tory of  this  view.  "Tricefimo  feptimo"  also  is  incor- 
rectly rendered,  in  the  translation,  "thirty-^«<?,"  instead 
of  "thirty -j^^-y^w."  The  Latin  form  agrees  with  the  state- 
ment in  the  earlier  part  of  this  work:  "In  June,  1736, 
Mr.  MacSparran  went  to  England,  on  a  visit,  and  re- 
turned in  August,  1737.  During  his  residence  in  Eng- 
land, the  University  .  .  .  conferred  on  him  the  degree 
of  DoSlor  in  Divinity.^' 

910    ''Old  Archibald,  of  the  Hafs.'* 

Hass  is  a  Scottish  term  for  a  narrow  pass  through  the 
hills,  a  defile,  and  is  sometimes  found,  in  composition,  in 
names  of  places  in  Scotland.  "Old  Archibald  of  the 
Hass  "  may  have  been  a  common,  well-known  ances- 
tor of  Dr.  MacSparran  and  Mr.  Limrick,  living  in  the 
mountainous  distrifl:  of  Scotland,  Archibald  having  been 
a  traditional  family  praenomen  ;  or  possibly  he  was  their 
uncle  of  that  name,  the  Presbyterian  minister,  at  Dun- 
given,  Ireland. 


I 

if 


Records  of  St.  Paul's  Church 
Narragansett 

Entries  in  the  Narragansett  Parish  Register, 
April  14,  171 8  —  November  6,  1774 


After  the  latter  of  the  above  dates^  there  are  no 
more  entries^  in   St.  Paul's  Parochial  Register, 
until  the  minutes  of  a  Parish  Meeting.,  held  in 
Ij8^,  and  a  list  of  Baptisms  by  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Smith,  in  ijSj.  Frotn  these  dates,  entries, 
occupying  about  one-third  as  much  space  as  do 
those  given  here,  are  contained  in  the 
first  '■'•Register  Book,"  extending  to 
Easter,  April  i^, 
1805 


The  Register  Book 

Belonging  to  the  Church  of  S'"  Pauls 
in  Naragansett 

'Bought  in  Boston  by  Tho'-  Phillips 

Record  Book  belonging  to  y^ 
Church  of  S'-  Pauls  in  Narraganset 


KINGSTOWN  in  Naragansett  yf/^r/V/  14"'  1718 
att  a  Meeting  of  the  Parrishners  afore  s^  the  ffol- 
lowing  persons  were  Eledled  as  Church  Wardens  and 
Vestreymen  for  the  Year  Ensueing. 
Viz'  The  Reverend  M'  W™  Guy  Rec'  being  present 
M'  Sam"  Phillips   )  ^,        ,    ..j     , 
M^Sam"Albro      |  Church  Wardens 

M'  Cha.  Dickinson 

M' Gabriel  Bernon 

M^  Geo.  Balfour 

M^  Tho^  Lillibridge 

M'Jn°  Kettridge 

M^  Tho=  Phillips 

M^Jn^Albro 

M'  Tho^  Phillips,  Chosen  Register 

and  Moses  Parr,  Sexton 

The  same  Day  y^  s'' 

M'  Cha.  Dickinson 

M'  Gabriel  Bernon 

M^Jn°  Kettridge 

M'Tho^  Phillips 
Were  Sworn  into  their  Office  by  Jn"  Eldred  Esq' 
Assistant 


Vestry  Men 


Vestry  Men 


462  church  Records        [17 18-21 

as  also  M'  Sam"  Phillips    )  ^i        ,    wt     j 
andM'Sam"Albro  }  Church  Wardens 

The  same  Day  Agreed  that  M'  Cha.  Dickinson,  M' 
Gabriel  Bernon  M^  Sam"  Albro  and  M^  Sam"  Phillips 
and  M'  George  Balfour  go  down  to  Boston  y"  15"'  of 
June:  17 18  in  Order  to  obtain  A  Benifa6lion  or 
Contribution  towards  the  finishing  the  Church  in  Nar- 
gansett,  and  that  a  letter  be  writt  and  signed  By  the 
Vestry  for  the  same  purpose. 
Agreed 
that  M^  Sam"  Phillips  andM^  Sam"  Albro  Wait  Upon 
the  Gentlemen  in  Newport  on  Rhoad-Island  in  Order 
to  Obtain  the  hke  Benifadion  on  April  y'^^j:  171 8. 

1 71 8  June  y  15'''  Jn"  Dickinson  and  Mary  Phillips 
were  Married  by  the  Rever''  M'  W"  Guy. 

June  y'  ii-.  Edmond  Bawden  Guy  son  of  the  Rever'' 
M^  W"  Guy  was  Baptized. 

Sep  y"  28""  171 8  Hannah  an  Indian  woman  was  Bap- 
tized by  the  Reverend  M^  W™  Guy. 

ffeb'  f  6"'  1719/20  Sam"  Dickinson  son  of  Jn°  Dick- 
inson and  Mary  his  Wife  was  Born  Near  Seaven  of 
the  Clock  in  the  after  Noon  and  on  the  10'''  was  Bap- 
tized by  the  Reverend  M'  James  Honyman 

June  y  15"'  1720.  Sent  three  letters  home  to  Great 

Brittain  Viz: 

one  to  my  Lord  Bishop  of  London 

one  to  the  Honourable  Society 

and  one  to  the  Honourable  ffrancis  Nicholson  Esq' 

for  Obtaining  and  Sending  a  Missionary  to  Us. 

1 72 1  April y'  28'''  persueant  to  our  Request  the  Rev- 
erend M'  James  M"'Sparran  Arrived  here. 

Whereas  April  y"  14'''  17 18  in  the  Incumbancy  of  the 
Rev**  M'  W"  Guy  a  Vestrey  Meeting  was  held  att  the 
Church  of  S'  Pauls  in  Kingstown  in  Narragansett  in 
New  England,  when  and  where  M'  Sam"  Phillips  and 


172 1]  church  Records  463 

M'  Sam"  Albro  were  Chosen  Churchwardens  for  that 
Year  and  M'  Charls  Dickinson  and  M'  Geo.  Balfour 
and  others  (as  by  Record  of  s''  Vestry  may  appear  Re- 
ferance  there  Unto  being  had)  were  Chosen  Vestry- 
men and  Now  whereas,  by  the  Remoueall  of  y^  s""  M' 
Guy  there  [hath]  been  a  Vacancy  Ever  Since  Untill 
April  1 72 1  When  the  Reverend  M'  James  M"'' 
Sparran  y"  Societies  Missionary  look  [^sic]  possession 
of  s''  Church,  and  Commenced  his  Ministerial  Office 
here,  there  hath  been  No  Vestrey  Nor  Church  Meet- 
ing it  is  therefore  Agreed  and  Unanimously  Voted  by 
the  Members  of  the  Vestry  present  att  an  appointed 
Meeting  for  Regulateing  and  Bringing  into  Better 
Order  the  affairs  of  the  Church  in  [sic]  in  the  afore  s*^ 
Parrish  of  S'  Pauls,  that  the  afore  s'*  Church  Wardens 
and  Vestry  Men  be  Continued  in  their  Respe6live  of- 
fices and  places  Untill  the  Next  and  Most  Immedi- 
ate proper  Season  for  Entering  Upon  a  New  Choice 
Att  a  Meeting  of  the  Members  of  the  Vestry  May  y' 
23'"''  1 72 1  y*"  Aboue  s**  was  Voated  by  a  Unaminity 
Nemine  Contradicente. 

The  Same  Day  Unanimously  Voted  y'  a  Letter  of 
Thanks  be  writt  by  the  Church  Wardens  to  the  So- 
ciety for  Sending  M'  M"Sparran  their  Missionary  to 
them,  a  letter  of  thanks  to  the  Society  was  Read  and 
Approued  of,  and  Voted  to  be  Sent  by  the  Church 
Wardens  with  the  first  Opportunity. 
Att  y*"  s^  Meeting  those  persons  Voted  that  Next 
Munday  y"  Workmen  for  Repareing  the  Church  are 
to  be  Mett  with  and  Agreed  with  for  the  Same, 
and  what  Summ  or  Summs  are  agreed  on  towards  the 
Same  shall  be  paid  by  the  Members  of  the  Church 
and  that  Such  as  shall  be  Appointed  to  See  and  Over 
see  y*"  Work  their  Names  to  be  Returned  Upon  Re- 
cord and  they  Looked  Upon  by  the  Vestry  as  Obliged 
to  all  possible  Expedition  Care  and  ffaithfullness  and 
a  True  Accompt  of  the  amount  of  the  Work  pre- 


464  church  Records  [1721 

pared  and  by  them  presented  to  the  Vestry. 

The  Minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Church  of  S* 
Pauls  in  Kingstown  May y'  28"'  1721 

By  an  Adjournment  of  the  aboue  %^  Meeting  to  Mun- 
day  the  27"'  of  May  att  the  Church 
Agreed  with  Thomas  Peckham  Jn'  to  make  a  Com- 
munion Table. 

Kingstown,  Mayf  29""  172 1  Then  Agreed  with  Tho- 
mas Peckham  Sn'  to  Lath  and  Plaster  the  Church  & 
s'*  Peckham  is  to  have  six  "^'  Y''  for  Over  head  and 
Rainging,  finding  s''  Peckham  Materialls  in  Place,  and 
s**  Peckham  finding  himselfe  Vicktualls,  Drink,  Wash- 
ing and  Lodgeing —  And  s'Tmployers  to  find  Labour- 
ers to  make  Morter  and  Tend  s''  Peckham;  and  fur- 
ther s"*  Peckham  is  to  Assist  s**  Labourers  in  their  Work 
and  y*"  s''  Peckham  is  to  be  Allowed  for  it. 
ffurther  Agreed  With  Tho'  Peckham  Sn'  to  Gett 
Timber  for  y^  Galleryes. 

An  Accompt  of  Persons  Baptized  by  the  Reverend  M' 
James  M^Sparran 

May  y'  7'''  1721  George  Buckmaster  and  Elizabeth 
Tombs  were  Baptized. 

May  y'  1%'''  There  was  Seaven  Communicants  att  S' 
Pauls  Church  Viz'  M'  Charles  Dickinson,  Sam"  Albro, 
Sam"  Phillips,  Tho=  Lillibridge,  M^  Buckmaster,  M'^ 
Albro,  &  M"  Gallop. 

May  y'  14'''  Alice  Woodall  an  Adult  person  was  Bap- 
tized att  Bristole. 

And  May  f  18  Tho'  Gains  an  Infant  and  Martha 
Willson  an  Adult  Married  Person,  and  her  Two  Chil- 
dren Viz'  David  &  Margarett  Willson  were  Baptized 
att  Bristole. 

June  f  4'''  Were  Baptized  at  Kingstown  Thomas 
Brown  and  Mary  Brown. 


172 1-2]         Church  Records  465 

Juney'  g'^  1721  M'  George  Balfour  pertiscipated  of 
y^  Communion  att  Kingstown. 

Julyf  1 1'^'  four  Children  were  Baptized  at  Providence 
Viz'  Mary  Bernon,  and  Eve  Bernon,  Anna  Donni- 
son  &  Elizabeth  Donnison. 

July  y'  13'''  were  Baptized  att  Brislole  \sic~\  Thomas 
Lawton  an  Adult  person  and  Three  Children  Viz'  Tho^ 
Little,  Sam"  Little,  and  Mary  Little. 

172 1  Aug'  12'^  y^  Reverend  M'  M^Sparran  Rec''  a 
Letter  from  his  Unkle  Dated  att  Dungiven  in  Ire- 
land Sep'  y'  2"'  17 1 9,  (by  the  hands  of  M'  W"  Brown 
Memorandum  that  tho  his  Unkle  told  him  twas  In- 
closed In  a  Cover  to  Esq'  Blackgrove  at  Bristole  Yett 
the  Cover  is  Destroyed  and  it  Came  Direded  to  y° 
Reverend  M'  M"Sparran  att  Bristole. 

August  y'  22:  Ebenezer  Brenton  a  Child  was  Baptiz** 
att  Bristole. 

This  Account  is  Transmitted  to  London. 

Mathew  Cooper  married  to  Abigail  Updike  by  M' 

McSparran  1721 

1721  O£lob''  19"' William  Gallop  and  Mary  his  Wife 
were  Married  att  Bristool  by  y''  Reverend  M'  M'^'Spar- 
ran 

Dec'  25"'  1 72 1  M'  W"  Gardner  an  Adult  person  was 
Baptiz''  att  y*"  Church,  of  S'  Pauls  in  Narragansett  by 
M'  M^^Sparran 

Jan^  14'^  1 72 1/2  George  and  Ruth  Brown  Children 
were  Baptized 

ffeb^  11:1721/2  Mary  Gardner  Gardner  an  Adult  per- 
son was  Baptized  by  M'  M"Sparran 

ffeb^  /  27""  1 72 1/2  Henery  Gardner  an  Adult  person 
was  Baptzed,  as  allso  Hen.  Gardner,  Hannah  Gard- 
ner, and  Desier  Gardner,  Children  of  the  afores'' Henry 
Gardner,  were  Baptiz'*. 


466 


Church  Records 


Vestry  Men 


[1721-2 

March  y'  18'''  \^i\ji  Edw'*  Bowman,  Sam"  Bowman 
&  Elizabeth  Bowman,  Children  were  Baptized  atBris- 
toll  by  the  Reverend  M'  M"Sparran 

Att  a  Vestrey  Meeting  held  att  the  Church  of  S'  Pauls 

In  Narragansett  on  Easter  Monday  March  26"'  1722 

the  Reverend  M'  M"Sparran  being  Red' were  Chosen 

William  Brownl  ^i        ,    ^^t     , 
T-L  s  rbL-ii-  hChurch  Wardens 

Tho  Phillips     J 

Tho'  Phillips  Clerk  to  y*"  Vestery 

Sam"  Phillips 

Sam"  Albro 

Cha.  Dickinson 

Geo.  Balfour 

Rich.  Updike 

Cha.  Dickinson  Jn' 

Rob'  Case 

Tho'  Lillibridge 

Jn°  Buckmaster 

W"  Gardner 

Hen.  Gardner  Jn' 

Jn°  Albro 

Moses  Parr,  Sexton 

1722  May  10"'  Silvester  Gardner  a  Youth  was  Bap- 
tized by  M'  M"Sparran  And  the  11'^  of  May  \^ii  the 
Rev**  MacSparran  was  married  to  M''  Hannah  Gardi- 
ner at  y"  Church  by  y^  Rev''  M' Ja'  [Honeyman]* 

June  f  17"'  Baptized  Ichobod  Peckham  and  Lydia 
Power. 

Att  a  Vestry  Meeting  att  the  Church  of  S'  Pauls  In 
Naragansett  July  y'  12"^  1722:  M'  Cha.  Dickinson 
was  Chosen  In  the  Quallity  of  a  Questman  or  Assist- 
ant to  be  joyn"*  with  the  two  Church  Wardens  to  Sue 
for  &  Recover  the  fFarm  in  y''  Pettequamscutt  pur- 
chase Commonly  Called  the  Ministerial!  ffarm. 
The  Vote  was  Nemine  Contradicente 
*  Page  torn  and  illegible. 


1722]  church  Records  467 

August  y'  19'''  1722  Freelove  Webb  an  Adult  per- 
son &  a  Mustee  by  Colour  and  her  Child  Katharine 
Lyn  alies  Gardnerf  were  Baptized  at  y*"  Church  In 
Narragansett  by  y"  Reverend  M'  M"Sparran 
■\  Note  y'  childs  fa^  being  a  Slave  to  one  Gardener  is  the 
reason  of  f  addition  of  (alias  Gardenr) 

Sey  \^ii  Geo.  Marriner  and  Elizabeth  Eelly  were 
married  by  M'  M"Sparran  (3 

Att  a  Vestry  Meeting  held  att  the  Church  of  S'  Pauls 
In  Narragansett  Sep  13:  1722  it  was  voted  that  y*" 
Church  Wardens  viz.  M^  W"  Brown  &  Tho^  Phillips 
should  Carry  about  a  paper  among  the  people  to  Ob- 
tain a  Subscription  to  pay  for  the  Repareing  y"  Church. 

1722  September  y'  23  :  James  Buckmaster  a  Child  was 
Baptized  att  Narragansett 

O^tob" y'  ^^  \']ii'.  Tho^  Peckham  and  Sarah  Brown 
were  Married  by  y'  Reverend  M'  M"Sparran.  (4 
Anna  Case  an  Adult  Young  woman  being  Dangerous- 
ly Sick  was  Baptized  In  Bed  by  M^  M"Sparran  O^fob' 
/  4"'  att  Night  1722 

Jn°  Stafford  of  Preston  in  Conedicutt,  Upon  the 
Recommendation  of  y''  Reverend  M'  Jn"  Tho'  of 
Hampstead  on  Long  Island,  was  Admitted  to  y'^Holy 
Eucharist  on  y''  4"'  day  of  Novemb"  1722  ^  J  :  M  :Sp" 

a  Coppy  of  M'  Jn°  Thomas^  Letter 

Hemsted  July  y^  12'''  1722 
These  are  to  Certifie  Whome  it  may  Concern  y'  M' 
Jn"  Safford  a  Black-Smith,  Dureing  his  Residence  att 
Hemstead,  lived  honestly  and  soberly,  According  to 
y"  Best  [of]  My  Knowledge;  and  was  a  Constant  At- 
tendant att  \_torn  off~\  Service,  According  to  y*"  Usage  of 
y"  Religeous  Worship  [torn  off~\  Church  of  England 
this  I  doe  Testifie  as  [torn  off~\  my  Hand  y*"  Day  and 

Year  Aboue  Written  ,   „  ^, 

Jn    1  nomas 


468  Church  Records  [1722 

The  Transcript  att  y*"  Bottom,  on  y''  Other  Side  is  a 

True  Coppy  of  M'  Jn°  Thomas'  Certificate   to   y' 

Within  Named  Jn°  Safford  Examined  and  Compared 

by  me. 

Jm'  M"Sparran  Clerk  and  Incumbent  of  Narragan- 

sett 

The  following  is  y^  Societies  Letter  Rec'^  by  M'  W" 
Brown  Nov''  y'  24:  1722 

Gentlemen  London  June  y"  5"'  1722 

The  Society  for  y*"  Propagation  of  y"  Gospel  in  in  fibr- 
eign  parts,  haveing  been  Informed  by  a  Letter  from  y^ 
Reverend  M'  M"Sparran  their  Missionary  among 
You  that  300  Acres  of  Land  have  been  formerly  Laid 
out  in  Narragansett  for  y*"  Ministrey  which  might  be 
forever  Secured  to  Your  Church  if  you  would  Raise 
a  Summ  of  Money  to  Reimburse  y"  Present  Possesser 
what  he  has  Laid  out  Upon  it,  which  is  Represented 
to  Amount  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  Your 
Money:  the  Society  have  thereUpon  Ordered  Ear- 
nestly to  Recommend  to  you,  the  Raising  Such  a  Summ 
for  the  purpose  afores'':  and  they  have  the  More  Rea- 
son to  BeleveYou  will  Comply  with  their  Request,  be- 
cause you  have  All  ways  Expres**  Your  Zeal  and  Readi- 
ness (as  Much  as  in  You  Lies)  to  Contribute  towards 
y"  Support  of  y*"  Societies  Missionary  Resideing  with 
you 
I  am.  Gentlemen  Your  Most  Humble  Serv' 

David  Humphreys 

To  y*"  Church  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  Naragansett 

CopiaVera  Attested  f  Jm^  M"Sparran  Clerk  in  Nar- 
agansett 

Naragansett  Decemb"  23''^  1722  Baptized  by  M'  M"- 
Sparran  Lidia  Gardner  a  Young  Woman  of  Sixteen 
Years  of  Age. 
Decemb"  25:  1722:  Baptized  by  M'  M"Sparran  Mary 


1722-3]  church  Records  469 

Chappel  an  Adult  Married  Woman,  Wife  to  W'" 
Chappel,  and  her  two  Children  Viz' W"'  Chappel  and 
Meribah  Chappel;  att  y*"  Church  In  Naragansett. 

1722  Dec""  26:  Baptized  att  Narragansett  by  M'  M"- 
Sparran  Rich''  Gallop  an  Adult  person 

Dec'ij"'  Hen.  Gardner  Jn'  (of Kingstown,  &  Katharine 
Davis  of  East  Greenwich  being  Lawfully  Published 
were  Married  by  the  Rev'  M^  Jm'  M"Sparran      (5 

Providence  Dec'  30'''  1722  the  Reverend  M'  M"- 
Sparran  preacht  att  Providence  and  in  the  Evening  of 
S''  Day  Married  M'  Benjamin  Brown  of  Barrington  to 
M^'  Keziah  Brown,  Daughter  to  M'  Nath"  Brown  of 
Rehoboth;  they  being  published  as  the  Law  of  the 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Require  [sic]  (6 

Bristol  in  New  England  ^^Z'''  5'''  Were  Imprisoned 
twelve  men  of  the  Church  of  England  for  Refuseing  to 
pay  towards  the  Support  of  y"  Prisbeterian  Teacher 
there  Viz'  M^  Nath'  Cotton 

M'  M"Sparran  being  Sent  for  to  Vissitt  y^  Gentlemen 
above  s''  in  Prison  in  M'  Orems  Absence,  preached 
in  BristoU  Church  y"  10  Day  of  ffeb  Anno  Domini 

March  y'  31"  1723  att  y^  Church  of  S*  Pauls  in  Nar- 
ragansett was  Baptized  Tho'  Gardner  An  Adult  per- 
son of  y"  age  of  Aboute  20  Years  &  five  months  Born 
in  Narrags'  06tob'  y*"  31 :  1702 

Att  a  Vestry  Meeting  att  y"  Church  of  S'  Pauls  in 
Narragansett  y^/)n7  jy'  4'''  1723  A  Letter  from  y'^  Rev'' 
M'  M^'^Sparran  to  my  L**  Bishop  of  London  praying 
an  Order  for  our  Church  fFurniture  which  Lyes  at 
Stratford  and  Begg  he  would  Espouse  y"  Cause  of  y'' 
Church  of  England  att  Bristole  where  y"  Desenters 
have  Lately  I  mprisoned  Twenty  persons  and  Distrain'' 
Upon  y*"  Estats  of  Several  Other  Church  Men,  for 
payment  ofy"  Rate  to  Support  theirDissenting  Teacher 


470 


Church  Records 


[1723 


>  Vestry  Men 


(M'  Nath"  Cotton,)  was  Read  and  Concurr''  with,  and 
that  Concurrance  and  Anexed  prayer  Subscribed  by 
all  that  were  present  att  s"*  vestry 

Jacobus  M"Sparran 
Redor  of  s''  Church 
April  y'  15'''  1723   Being  Easter  Munday  Y  Vestry 
Mett  and  y*"  fFollowing  officers  were  Chosen  Viz' 

M'  Cha.  Dickinson  ]  ^i        i_  txt     j 
Tv/rr  c      11  Aiu  \  Church  Wardens 

M  bam  Albro  j 

Tho'  Phillips  Clerk  to  y"  Vestry 

M'  W"  Brown 

M^  Sam"  Phillips 

M'  W"  Gardner 

M^  Hen.  Gardner  Jn^ 

M^  Geo.  Balfour 

M^  Jn°  Albro 

M^  Tho^  Lillibridge 

M^  Rob'  Case 

M'  Jn°  Buckmaster 

M^  Chrisf  Phillips 

M'  Cha.  Dickinson  Jn' 

April  y  28"'  1723  y^  Rev"*  M^  M"Sparran  Preached 
att  Bristol  &  Baptized,  Geo.  Munroe  and  his  family 
Viz' 

Geo.  Munroe  ] 

Mary  Munroe  his  Wife  >  Adult  persons 

Sarah  Munro  his  Daughter    ) 

Benjamin  Munroe' 

Simeon  Munroe 

Thomas  Munroe 

Tabitha  Munroe 

Hannah  Munroe 

MayfK^'^  1723  Baptized  by  y"  Reverend  M^M"Spar- 
ran  Sarah  Dickinson  a  Child  Daughter  of  Chales  \_sic\ 
Dickinson  Jn' 

On  Salter  day  /  15""  of  June:  1723  We  had  y^  Mel- 


Children,  of  y'^s'' Geo.  Munroe 


1723]  Church  Records  471 

oncholly  News  of  y''  Death  of  y''  Right  Reverend  Jn° 
Lord  Bishop  of  London:  May  God  Almighty  Direct 
his  Majesty  in  y"  Choice  of  his  Successer  y'  may  Be- 
friend y''  Cause  of  These  American  Churches. 

June  16:  1723  M'  MccSparran  Baptized  a  Child  att 
Bristol  named  Katharine  Willson. 

July  y'  i'''  1723  Wee  had  the  News  of  the  Transla- 
tion of  the  Right  Reverend  ffather  in  God  Dod'  Ed- 
mond  Gibson  from  the  See  of  Lincoln  to  the  See  of 
London  in  the  Room  of  Dodl'  Jn°  Robinson  De- 
ceased, and  a  Gratulatory  Letter  Sent  him  by  the 
Minister  and  Vestery  att  Narragansett  August  y*"  12: 
1723 

July  14:  1723  the  Reverend  M'  M"Sparran  Bap- 
tized a  Child  (att  Groton  in  Conedlicutt  Colony) 
Named  Elizabeth  Pearce  att  the  House  of  M'  Tho' 
Mumford. 

July  31"  1723:  Dyed  verry  Sudainly  Moses  Parr  the 
first  Sexton  of  the  church  of  S'  Pavls;  and  was  In- 
terred Aug^  y^  I : 

1723  Aug'  14:  M'  M"Sparran  preached  a  Ledure  att 
Providence. 

Sef  13 :  1723  Was  Baptized  by  y^^  Rev'  M^  M"Spar- 
ran  Ephraim  Gardner  An  Adult  person  (on  his  Sick 
Bed)  in  presence  of  four  of  the  Church  Members. 

September  y'  29'''  being  y'  Feast  of  S'  Micheal  the  Arch 
Angel,  was  Baptized  at  the  Church  of  S'  Pauls  in 
Narragansett  (by  y*"  Rev''  M'  M"Sparran)  Sarah  Isaac 
an  adult  Young  Indian  Woman 

1723  OSfob''  6:  Was  Admitted  to  the  Communion,  M' 
W""  Brown  of  Boston  Neck  who  hath  since  turned 
Quaker 

1723  Novemb'  -^"^  Was  Baptized  by  the  Rev''  M' 
M"Sparran  att  y"  Church  of  S'  Pauls  in  Narragansett 


472  Church  Records  [1723-4 

Hannah  Mumford  Wife  ]  of  Tho'  Mumford 

Tho'  Mumford  Son  V  of  Groaton  in  Con- 

&  Abigail  Mumford  Daughter  J  edicutt    all    Upon 

their  own  personall  profession  of  faith. 

Nov'  20"'  1723  were  Joyned  together  in  Holy  Matri- 
mony, att  Darl mouth  [j/V]  in  the  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay,  by  the  Rev''  M'  M"Sparran 
Reft'  of  Narragansett  &c  Rob'  Willcox  of  Naragan- 
sett  and  Sarah  Willcox  of  s''  Dartmouth  (7 

[sic]  1724:  Nov''  24:  Was  Baptized  att  the  Church  of 
S'  Pauls  in  Narragansett  (By  M'  M"Sparran)  Anna 
Place  an  Adult  person 

1723  Dec"  25  Being  the  Birth  of  our  Lord  and  Sa- 
viour Jesus  ChristyW3.s  admitted  to  y"  Sacrament  of  the 
Lords  Supper  att  y"  Church  of  S'  Pauls  in  Narragan- 
sett by  M'  M"Sparren:  Jn°  Launce  &  Anna  Place. 

1723  Dec"  28  :  About  10  att  Night  Died  a  Child  of 
this  Church  being  scaulded  by  a  Kettle  of  Boyling 
Water  falling  Upon  her.  Viz'  Desire  Gardner  Daugh- 
ter of  Hen.  Gardner  Jn'.  She  was  Buried  Dec'  30  after 
her  funerall  Sermon  had  Been  preached  by  the  Rev'' 
M'  M"Sparran  from  Job:  y"  g:  22:  23 

Jan>  y'  5""  1723/4  Was  Baptized  att  Groton  in  Con- 
efticutt  att  y*"  House  of  M'  Thomas  Mumford;  (by 
y'=  Reverend  M'  M-^'Sparran)  Jn°  Mumford  &  Caleb 
Mumford  Children  of  the  afore  s''  Thomas  Mumford. 

Att  a  Vestry  Meeting  held  att  the  Church  of  S'  Pauls 
in  Narragansett  on  March  y'  17'''  1723/4  present  y^ 
Reverend  M'  M'^'Sparran  and  Vestry,  Agreed  that  the 
pews  Should  be  Numbred  &  Each  Mans  Name  Af- 
fixed to  y^  Number  of  his  Pew  as  followeth 
Numb'  I :  M'  Charls  Dickinson 
Numb'  2:  M' Sam"  Phillips 
No.        3  :  M'  W"  Mumford 
No.        4:  M' W"  Gardner 


1723-4]         church  Records  473 

No.  5 :  M'  Jn°  Albro  haveing  exchanged  w"'  M' 

Tho'  phillips  for  n°  26  on  y^  other  side. 

No.  6:  M^  Sam"  Albro 

No.  7:  M' Hen.  Gardner 

No.  8 :  M^  Cha.  Dickinson  Jn' 

No.  9:  M^  Geo.  Balfour 

No.  10:  Mrs'  Katharine  &  Sarah  Updike 

No.  11:  M^  Rob'  Case 

No.  12:  M^  W-"  Gardner  Jn^ 

No.  13:  M^  Jn°  Gardner 

No.  14:  Cap^  Benony  Sweet 

No.  15:  y^  Rqv'  M'  M^Sparran 

No.  16:  M^  Elisha  Cole. 

Numb^  17:  M^  Sam"  Brown 

No.  i8:M'W"Cole 

No.  19:  M^'  Norton  &  Shipwright 

No.  20:  Cap'  Jn°  Eldred  forfeited  and  since  be- 
longing to  Ephraim  Gardner 

No.  21:  Cap'  Dan"  Eldred 

No.  12  :  M'  Stephen  Cooper 

No.  23:  M'  W"  Brown 

No.  24:  The  ffont  Pew  Built  by  M'  M-^'Sparran 

No.  25: 

No.  26: 

Att  a  vestry  held  at  S'  Pauls  in  Narraganset  Janry  29 
1723/4  M''  Charles  Dickinson,  William  Browne  and 
William  Gardiner  did  Each  of  them  promise  to  be  y^ 
tenth  part  of  5©;^'  "^  annum  toward  M'  M"Sparrans 
Support  or  Salary;  that  is  to  Say  5^  each  of  them 
Sent  a  Letter  to  y"  Honourable  Coll.  Tayler  for  the 
Obtaining  the  Honourable  Generall  Nicholsons  Do- 
nation to  this  Church 

March y'  16:  17 24:  Elizabeth  Dickinson  Daughter  of 
Jn°  Dickinson  (and  Mary  his  Wife)  was  Baptized  by 
the  Reverend  M'  James  M^Sparran.  She  was  Born 
March  y^  first 


church  Records 


[1724 


474 

1724  April y'  5:  Ed'*'''  Gardner  Son  of  Hen.  Gardner 
Jn'  was  Baptized  att  y^  Church  by   M'  M"Sparran 

Att  a  Vestry  Meeting,  att  the  Church  of  S'  Pauls  in 
Narragansett  on  Easter  Monday^  Being  y'  6'^  of  April: 
1724:  present  y"  Rev''  M'  M^^Sparran  &  Vestry. 
Were  Chosen 


Church  Wardens 


M'  Cha.  Dickinson 
M'  Sam"  Albro 
M'  W"  Brown 
M'  Sam"  PhiUips 

M'  Jn°  Albro  [Vestry  Men 

M'  Tho^  Lillibridge 
M'  W™  Gardner 
M'  Hen.  Gardner  Jn' 
M'  Ephraim  Gardner 
M'  Charles  Dickinson  Jn' 
M^  Chrisf  Phillips  [Vestry  Men 

M'  Geo.  Balfour 
M'  Rob'  Case 
M^  Tho^  Phillips 
Tho'  Phillips,  Clerk  of  y''  Vestry 
Voated  Nemine  Contradicente  y'  the  Reverend  M' 
M^'Sparran  Should  Prosecute  the  Appeal  for  the  Re- 
covery of  the  Ministerial  Land  (that  is  Detain''  by  M' 
George  Mumford)  before  his  Majesty  and  Councell 
in  Great  Brittain;  to  which  M'  M'^'Sparran  Concented 
Voated  Likewise  that  a  Subscription  be  presented  to 
all  Well  Disposed  persons  to  Obtain  their  Charitable 
Benefadlion  to  Defray  the  Charges  that  will  Accrue  in 
the  Building  of  the  Gallerys  and  other  Nessesary  Re- 
pairs to  the  Church. 

1724.  May  3'''  Tho'  Culverwell,  Abigail  Culverwell, 
and  Elizabeth  Culverwell,  Children  of  Tho'  Cul- 
verwell were  Baptized  att  the  Church  of  S'  Pauls  by 
the  Rev''  M^  Jm'  M"Sparran. 

May  24:    1724  Being   Whitsunday ^   Mary   Higgin- 


1724]  Church  Records  475 

bothom  Daughter  of  Charls  Higinbothom  was  Bap- 

tiz''  att  the  Church  of  S'  Pauls  In  Narragansett  by  the 

Rev'  M'  M"Sparran. 

The  Numb'  of  the  Pews  in  y*"  Gallery  are  a  Followeth 

and  are  Disposed  of  to  y*"  Following  Persons  Viz': 

The  Pew  Next  y"  Puilpett  is  No.  i 

No.     I :  D06V  Cha.  Higinbothom 

No.     2 :  M'^'  Gronett  &  Curtis 

No.    3: 

No.    4:  M'  Tho=  Eldred  &  M'  JeflFery  Champlin 

No.     5: 

No.     6: 

No.    7: 

No.     8 :  George  Fowler 

No.     9:  M'  Yeo 

No.  10:  M'  Bennett 

M''  Ann  Bennet  CoTcated  in  y*"  Sacram'  of  y"  L""  Sup- 
per in  Narraganset  aug" y'  of  day  1724 

Aug'  y'  16'''  1724  Anstis  Gardner  Daughter  of  John 
Gardner  was  Baptized  att  y*"  Church  of  S'  Pauls  in 
Naragansett,  by  y*"  Reverend  M'  James  M"Sparran. 

Aug'  ij"'  1 7  24  Christopher  Curtis  and  Sarah  Winterton 
were  married  in  Narraganset  by  Mr  M"Sparran.   (8 

Baptized  by  M'  M"Sparran  Aug"  29  1724  at  y*"  house 
of  M'  Tho'  Lillybridge  three  children  viz:  Edw''  Jn° 
&  Patience  Lilly-bridge 

1724  Sep'  y'  I  Hannah  Hill  an  adult  Young  woman 
Being  verry  Sick  was  Baptized  att  Westerly  by  y''  Rev- 
erend NP  M^Sparran. 

O^oi?"-  iS"  Jn"  Brown  Son  of  W"  Brown  School- 
master was  Baptized  att  y''  Church  of  S'  Pauls  by  y" 
Reverend  M'  M^Sparran, 

Nov''  8"'  Cap'  Benony  Sweet,  of  North  Kingstown, 
and  Tho'  Mumford  of  Groaton  in  Conedlicutt  Col- 
ony; were  Both  Baptzed  att  the  Church  of  S'  Pauls 


47^  Church  Records         [1724-5 

in  Naragansett  by  the  Reverend  M'  M"Sparran. 
y^  Same  day  were  admitted  to  y"  Lords  supper  M" 
Hannah  Mumfordand  m'  Wm.  Browne  and  his  wife 

Nov"  the  17'"  1724  at  the  House  of  M^  William 
Gardiner  of  Boston-Neck  in  Narraganset  were  Joined 
togaher  in  marriage  by  y*"  Rev"^  M'  M^Sparran  Josiah 
Arnold  of  Jamestown  alias  Connanicut  to  Lydia  Gar- 
diner daughter  to  said  William.  (9 

March  14'^  172.4/5  were  baptized  at  S'  Pauls  in 
Narraganset  Sarah  and  Hannah  Parr  daughters  of 
Moses  Parr  late  Sexton  of  said  Church  by  M'  M"- 
Sparran. 

March  29"'  1725  At  the  Church  of  St  Pauls  in  Nar- 
raganset Present  y''  Rev''  M'  M"Sparran  and  Vestry 
the  following  Gentlemen  were  Chosen  into  the  Re- 
spedive  offices  following 
Rob^  Case 
William  Gardiner 

Tho'  Phillips,  Clerk  for  the  Responses 
Charles  Dickinson 
Charles  Dickinson  Jun' 
Geo.  Balfour 
Jn°  Case 
Sam'  Phillips 
Christopher  Phillips 
Sam'  Albro 

Jn°  Albro  \  Vestry  Men 

Bennoni  Sweet 
Stephen  Cooper 
William  Browne 
Jn°  Buckmaster 
Henry  Gardiner 
Ephraim  Gardiner 
Christopher  Curtis 

Att  Said  Vestry  M"  Rob'  Case,  Jn°  Albro  &  Henry 
Gardiner  were  Chosen  to  Provide  a  Parrish  School- 


Church  Wardens 


1724-5]  church  Records  477 

master  according  to  the  Society  for  y^  propagation  of 
y^  Gospels  desire  and  pursuant  to  their  bountyful  de- 
sign [?]  the  Year  Ensueing  viz.  for  1725 

This  March  I'ji/^l ^  are  Imprisoned  att  Bristol  in  y^ 
Province  of  theMassachusets  Bay  Cap'  Nath'  Browne 
one  of  y^  Cch  wardens  of  Providence,  Joseph  Browne 
and  M'  Carpenter  all  of  the  town  of  Rehoboth,  for 
refuseingto  pay  towards  the  Support  of  y''  Dissenting 
teacher  in  y'  Town  (viz.  M'  Greenwood)  w"""  they  re- 
fuse, Supposeing  it  Criminal  to  contribute  towards 
Supporting  Schism  and  a  Causeless  Separation  from 
y"  Church  of  England;  and  I  have  Inserted  the  Same 
here,  y'  the  age  to  come  may  not  forget  the  oppres- 
ing  Spirit  of  y"  New-England  Presbyterians,  and  w' 
mercy  and  moderation  y*"  Church  of  England  is  like 
to  feel  at  their  hands  when  ever  they  have  y''  oppor- 
tunity of  Lording  it  over  her,  as  they  have  too  much 
already  in  this  Country. 

Sunday  May  1^:  1725  att  the  Cch  of  S'  Pauls  in  Nar- 
raganset  were  published  y^  3''  time  and  No  objedions 
made  Tho'  Phillips  and  Mary  Browne  both  of  Nar- 
raganset. 

at  S'  Pauls  in  Narraganset  May  9'^  1725  was  bap- 
tized by  M'  M"Sparran  William  Buckmaster  a  child 

On  Friday  June  the  11'''  1725  M'  Tho'  Phillips  was 
married  to  Mary  Browne  by  M'  M^Sparran  Redlor 
of  Narraganset  at  Narraganset  (10 

On  Friday  June  25"'  1725  was  Baptized  by  M'  M"- 
Sparran  at  y*"  House  of  M'  W"  Gardiner  of  Boston- 
Neck  Abigail  Arnold  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Lydia 
Arnold. 

on  Sunday  July  y'  4!''  1725  was  baptized  by  M'  M"- 
Sparran  [att?]  y''  Cch  of  S'  Pauls  Ruhamah  Still 
daughter  to  Capt.  Jn"  Still  at  Westerly  being  an  adult 
was  baptized  on  her  own  faith: 


478  Church  Records  [17^5 

The  following  is  a  Manuscript  of  a  Memorial  Pre- 
sented by  y^  Independent,  Congregational  or  Pres- 
byterian ministers  (as  they  call  themselves)  of  the 
Province  of  y"  Massachusets  Bay  to  the  Great  & 
General  assembly  of  y'  Province. 
A  Memorial  and  Address  humbly  presented  at  a  Gen- 
eral Convention  of  Min'^  from  Several  parts  of  the 
Province  at  Boston  May  27'''  1725 
Considering  the  Great  and  Visible  decay  of  piety  in 
y"  Country  and  y"  Growth  of  Many  Miscarriages  w'^'' 
we  may  fear  have  provoked  y*"  Glorious  Lord  in  a 
Series  of  various  Judgement,  wonderfully  to  Distress 
us,  considering  also  y"  laudable  Example  of  our  Pre- 
decessors to  Recover  and  Establish  y*"  faith  and  or- 
der of  the  Gospel  in  y''  Churches  and  provide  against 
what  immoralities  might  threaten  to  impair  y""  in  y" 
ways  of  General  Synods  convened  for  y"  purpose,  and 
Considering  y'  about  forty  five  years  have  now  rolled 
[?]  away  Since  these  Churches  have  seen  any  such 
Conventions 

It  is  humbly  de [sired?]  y'  the  Honoured  General 
Court  would  Express  their  Concern  for  y*"  Great  In- 
terests of  Religion  in  y*"  Country  by  calling  y^  Several 
churches  in  y*"  province  to  meet  by  their  Pastors  and 
Messengers  In  a  Synod  and  from  thence  offer  their 
advice  upon  y'  weighty  case  w"''  y*"  Circumstances  of 
y"  day  do  loudly  call  to  be  Considered 
What  are  y''  Miscarriages  whereof  we  have  reason  to 
think  y*"  Judgements  of  heaven  upon  us  call  us  to  be 
more  generally  sensible  and  w'  may  be  y*"  most  Evan- 
gelical and  Effedlual  Expedients  to  put  a  stop  unto 
those  and  y"  like  Miscarriages.  This  proposal  we  hum- 
bly make  in  hopes  y'  if  it  be  presented  it  may  be  fol- 
lowed with  many  desireable  Consequences  worthy  y^ 
Study  of  those  whom  God  has  made,  and  we  are  so 
happy  to  Enjoy,  as  y"  Nurssing  fa'"  of  our  churches 

Cotton  Mather 


1725]  church  Records  479 

In  y*"  name  of  y"  min''  assembled  in  General  Conven- 
tion 

The  Rev'  M^  Danforth,  M^  Williams,  M^  Sewal  and 
M'  Thayer  are  desired  to  present  this  Memorial. 

Indorsement 

To  y''  very  Honourable  William  Dummer  Esq'  Lieu- 
tenant Gov'  &  Commander  in  Chief  &c  to  y*""  Hon- 
ourable y"  Councillers,  to  the  Honoured  the  Repre- 
sentatives in  y"  Great  and  General  Court  assembled 
of  his  Maj'"'^  Province  of  y*"  Massachusets  Bay  and 
now  sitting  In  Council  June  y*"  3"^  1725.  Read  and  voted 
that  y*"  Synod  and  assembly  proposed  in  this  Me- 
morial will  be  agreeable  to  this  Board,  and  y"  Rev'' 
Min'^  are  Desired  to  take  their  own  time  for  the  Said 
assembly  and  it  is  Earnestly  wished  y"  Issue  thereof 
may  be  a  happy  Reformation  in  all  y*"  articles  of  a 
Christian  life  among  his  Majesties  Good  Subjects  of 
his  Province 

Sent  Down  for  Concurrence 

The  Memorial  of  Timothy  Cutler  and  Samuel  Miles 
Min'"  of  y^  Established  Church  of  England  in  Bos- 
ton humbly  presented  to  y*"  Honourable  W'"  Dum- 
mer Esq'  Lieutenant  Gov'  of  his  Majesties  Province 
of  y*"  Maassachusets  Bay,  to  y*"  Honourable  his  Ma- 
jesties Council  [?  and  to  the]  Representatives  of  y^ 
Said  Province  in  General  Court  assembled  this  [lo^'' 
day?]  of  June  1725 

Whereas  we  have  been  informed  y'  a  Memorial  has 
been  presented  to  this  Honoured  Court,  and  y'  y" 
prayer  of  it  hath  already  been  granted  by  y"  Honour- 
able His  Majesties  Council,  and  is  now  Depending  in 
y^  Honourable  House  of  Representatives  Therefore 
we  humbly  beg  leave  to  offer  y"  following  Reasons 
against 

y*"  Said  Memorial 
i:  The  Matter  of  y''  Petition  being  general,  respefting 


480  church  Records  [1725 

y"  Miscarriages  of  y"  whole  body  of  People  in  this 
land  it  is  presumed  to  Comprehend  y"  Churches  of 
England  wherein  y^  Petitioners  have  no  right  to 
intermedle 
2:  Whereas  by  y^  Tenour  of  y^  Petition,  w'^  is  to  re- 
vive decaying  piety  in  Conformity  to  y^  faith  and 
Order  of  y"  Gospel.  In  Explication  of  w'^''  general 
terms  y"  petitioners  Referr  y""  Honourable  Court  to 
a  time  [45  years  ago]  when  there  was  no  Church  of 
England  in  New-England.  We  therefore  appre- 
hend y'  y"  Synod  Petitioned  for  is  Designed  to 
Prejudice  y*"  People  of  y^  land  against  y^  Said 
Church.  And  we  have  litle  Reason  to  Expedl  y' 
in  such  a  Synod  she  will  be  treated  with  y'  tender- 
ness and  Respedt  w"*"  is  due  to  an  Established 
Church. 

3  As  y''  Episcopal  Min"  of  this  Province  are  Equally 
Concerned  with  y*"  Petitioners  for  y^  purity  of  faith 
and  Manners  it  is  disrespedlful  to  them  not  to  be 
Consulted  in  this  important  affair. 

4  Whereas  it  is  Desired  y^  y"  several  Churches  in  y^ 
Province  do  Meet  &c.  It  is  either  an  hard  reflec- 
tion on  y^  Episcopal  Churches,  as  none,  in  not  in- 
cludeing  them,  and  if  they  are  included,  we  think 
it  verry  improper,  it  being  without  y*"  knowledge 
of  their  Reverend  Diocesan  y^  Lord  Bishop  of 
London. 

5  Whereas  by  Royal  Authority  y^  Colonies  in  America 
are  annexed  to  y"  Diocese  of  London,  and  in  as 
much  as  Nothing  can  be  transacted  in  Ecclesiastical 
matters  without  y^  Cognizance  of  y^  Bishop,  we  are 
humbly  of  opinion  y'  it  will  neither  be  Dutiful  to 
his  Most  Sacred  Majesty  King  George  nor  Con- 
sistent with  y""  Rights  of  our  right  Rev''  Diocesan 
to  Encourage  or  call  y^  Said  Synod  until  y"  Plea- 
sure of  his  Majestie  shall  be  known  therein. 


1725]  church  Records  481 

We  humbly  pray  this  Hon''  Court  to  take  y^  pre- 
misses into  their  Serious  Consideration. 

Timothy  Cutler 
Samuel  Myles 

[turn  over) 

In  y^  House  of  Representatives  June  ii""  1725  Read 

In  Council  June  14'''  1725  Read 

Examined  ^  J.  Willard  Secretary 

Recorded  for  y*"  Information  &  Benefit  of  Posterity 
by  Ja^  M"Sparran  Cler. 

July  18  1725  Winterton  Curtis  a  child  was  baptized 
at  S'  Pauls  Church  by  y^  Rev''  M'  Honyman 

July  25"'  1725  Martha  Bennet  &  John  launce  both 
children  were  Baptized  at  y*"  Cch  of  S'  Paul's  in  Nar- 
raganset  by  y^  Rev''  M'  Samuel  Johnson  min'  of  y^ 
church  of  England  in  Stratford  in  Connefticut 

Aug"  i"  day  1725  Margret  albro  wife  to  Jn"  Albro, 
and  Sussannah  Baker  both  adult  persons  were  bap- 
tized by  M'  M^'Sparran  at  S'  Pauls  [in]  Narraganset 

Aug"  I  5'''  in  y^  morning  Died  Martha  Bennet  y"  child 
of  Tho'  Bennet 

Elizabeth  Gardiner  [dau]ghter  of  Geo.  Gardener  an 
adult  young  woman  was  Baptized  by  M'  M^'Sparran 
and  so  was  Tho'  Gardener  son  of  Jn°  Gardener  this 

11^  of  Aug"  1725 

Margret  Browne  a  child  daughter  of  William  Browne 
Schoolmaster  was  baptized  at  Narraganset  by  M' 
M^'Sparran  September  the  5'''  1725 

September  the  ip""  1725  were  baptized  by  M'  M'Spar- 
ran  at  S'  Pauls  in  Narraganset  Elizabeth  Cole  wife 
of  Elisha  Cole  and  her  children  viz  John,  Edward, 
Sussannah,  Ann,  Elizabeth,  and  Abigail  Cole  chil- 
dren; their  Sureties  wereM'  M^'Sparran  M''  M'Spar- 
ran  M^  William  Browne  and  M"  Sarah  Shellet 


482  church  Records  [1725 

Baptized  by  M'  M"Sparran  at  the  house  of  Jn"  Shak- 
maple  Esq'  of  new-London  John  Dillen  and  Ann 
Dillen  twin  children  September  y'  26'''  1725 

Died  at  Narraganset  the  18'''  of  December  1725  Abi- 
gail Arnold  daughter  of  Josiah  Arnold  a  child, and  was 
interred  in  the  church  Yard  of  S'  Pauls  in  said  Nar- 
raganset after  a  Sermon  preached  by  the  Rev''  M' 
M'Sparran  from  S' James:  4:  14  w'  is  your  life?  it  is 
even  a  vapour  y'  appeareth  for  a  litle  time  and  y" 
vanish  away. 

Baptized  by  M'  M"Sparran  at  the  Church  of  S'  Pauls 
in  Narraganset  January  9'''  1725  an  adult  Person 
named  Sussannah  Parr  widow  and  Relid:  of  Moses 
Parr  deceased 

Mary  Cooper  wife  of  Stephen  Cooper  an  adult  being 

sick  abed  and  in  danger  of  Death  was  baptized  by 

M'  M'Sparran  Janry  11"'  1725  [sic'\ 

the  same  day  at  night  departed  this  life  the  sd  Mary 

Cooper 

Maroca  african  a  negro  girl  of  13  year  old  belonging 
to  the  Rev''  M'  M'^Sparran  was  by  him  baptized  upon 
her  personal  Profession  of  her  own  {d\th.  february  G'^ 

1725/6 

White  Hall,  7"^  odlober  1725 
Sir 

The  Lords  Justices  being  informed  from  Such  good 
hands  as  makes  the  truth  of  this  advise  not  to  be 
doubted  y'  at  a  General  Convention  of  ministers  from 
Several  Parts  of  his  majesties  Province  of  the  Massa- 
chusets  Bay  at  Boston  on  the  27  of  May  last  a  me- 
morial and  address  was  framed,  Direded  to  you  as 
Lieu'  Gov'  and  Commander  in  Chief,  and  to  the  Coun- 
cil and  House  of  Representatives  then  sitting,  Desire- 
ing  that  the  General  Assembly  would  call  the  Several 
Churches  in  that  Province  to  meet  by  their  Pastors 


1725]  Church  Records  483 

and  Messengers  in  a  Synod.  Which  memorial  and  ad- 
dress being  accordingly  Presented  by  some  of  the  said 
min''  in  the  name,  and  at  the  Desire  of  the  said  Con- 
vention was  Considered  in  Council  the  j*"  June  follow- 
ing, and  there  approved;  But  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives put  off  the  Consideration  of  it  to  the  next 
Session  in  which  the  Council  afterward  Concurred. 

Their  Excellencys  were  Extreamely  Surprized  that 
no  account  of  so  Extraordinary  and  Important  Trans- 
action should  have  been  transmitted  by  you,  pursu- 
ant to  an  article  in  y"  Instructions,  by  w"''  you  are  di- 
rected upon  all  occasions,  to  send  unto  his  Majesty 
and  to  the  Commissioners  of  Trade  and  Plantations, 
a  Particular  account  of  all  your  Proceedings  and  the 
Condition  of  affairs  in  y''  Government. 

As  this  matter  does  highly  concern  his  Majesties 
Royal  Prerogative,  their  Excellencys  Referred  the 
Consideration  of  it  to  M'  attorney  and  sollicitor  Gen- 
eral; who  after  mature  deliberation,  and  Makeing  all 
the  Proper  Inquiries,  Reported,  that  from  y^  Charter 
and  laws  of  y"  Colony,  they  cannot  ColleCt  That  there 
is  any  Regular  Establishment  of  a  National  or  Provin- 
cial Church  there,  so  as  to  warrant  the  holding  of  Con- 
vocations or  Synods  of  y^  Clergie;  but  if  such  Synods 
might  be  holden,  yet  they  take  it  to  be  clear  in  point 
of  law,  that  his  Majesty^  Supremacy  in  Ecclesiastical 
affairs,  being  a  branch  of  his  Prerogative,  does  take 
Place  in  the  Plantations,  and  that  Synods  cannot  be 
held,  nor  is  it  lawful  for  the  Clergy  to  assemble  as  in 
Synod  without  authority  from  his  Majesty. 

They  conceive  the  above  mentioned  application  of 
the  min'"  not  to  you  alone  as  Representing  the  Kings 
Person,  but  to  you  and  the  Council,  and  the  house 
of  Representatives  to  be  a  Contempt  of  his  Majestys 
Prerogative,  as  it  is  a  Publick  acknowledgement  that 
the  Power  of  Granting  w'  they  Desire,  Resides  in  the 
Legislative  Body  of  the  Province,  w"''  by  law,  is  vested 


484  church  Records  [1725 

only  in  his  Majesty.  And  the  Lieu*  Gov'  and  Coun- 
cil and  Assembly  Intermedleing  therein,  was  an  In- 
vasion of  his  Majestys  Royal  authority,  w"''  it  was  y' 
particular  duty  as  Lieu'  Gov'  to  have  withstood  and 
Rejeded.  And  that  the  Consent  of  the  Lieu'  Gov'  the 
Council,  and  House  of  Representatives  will  not  be  a 
Sufficient  authority,  for  the  Holding  such  a  Synod. 
Their  Excellency  s  upon  consideration  of  this  opin- 
ion of  the  attorney  and  Sollicitor  General  which  they 
have  been  pleased  to  approve,  have  commanded  me 
to  acquaint  you  therewith,  and  to  Express  to  you  their 
Surprize,  that  no  account  of  so  Remarkable  aTrans- 
adlion,  w"''  so  nearly  concerns  the  Kings  Prerogative, 
and  the  welfare  of  his  Majestys  Province  under  your 
Government  has  been  received  from  you,  and  to  sig- 
nify to  you  their  diredions,  that  you  put  an  EfFedlual 
Stopp  to  any  such  Proceedings,  but  if  the  consent  de- 
sired by  the  Min"  Above  mentioned  for  the  holding  of 
such  a  Synod,  should  have  been  obtained,  and  this 
Pretended  Synod  should  be  actually  sitting  when  you 
Receive  these  their  Excellencys  Dire6tions,  they  do 
in  that  case.  Require  and  Diredl  you  to  cause  such 
their  meeting  to  cease,  acquainting  them  that  their  as- 
sembly is  against  law,  and  a  contempt  of  his  Majestys 
Prerogative,  and  that  they  are  to  forbear  to  meet  any 
more;  and  if  notwithstanding  such  signification,  they 
shall  continue  to  hold  their  Assembly,  you  are  to  take 
care  that  the  Principal  a6lors  therein,  be  Prosecuted 
for  a  Misdemeanour,  That  you  are  to  avoid  doing  any 
formal  a6l  to  dissolve  them,  least  that  might  be  Con- 
strued to  imply,  that  they  had  a  Right  to  assemble. 
This  S'  is,  what  I  have  in  Command  from  their  Ex- 
cellencys to  signify  to  you,  and  I  must  observe  to  you, 
that  the  Precedent  quoted  in  the  abovementioned 
Memorial  of  such  a  Synod  being  Held  45  years  ago, 
falls  in  with  the  Year  1680,  and  that  the  former  Char- 
ter upon  which  the  Gov'mt  of  your  Province  De- 


1725-6]         church  Records  485 

pended,  was  Repealed  by  [Scire  facias]  in  the  year 
1684,  and  the  new  Charter  was  Granted  in  the  year 
1 69 1  from  whence  it  appears  that  if  such  Synod  or  as- 
sembly was  holden  as  is  alledged  it  happened  a  short 
time  before  the  Repealing  of  the  old  Charter,  but  none 
hath  been  called  since  the  Granting  of  the  new  one. 
I  am  S^ 

Y'  most  humble  servant 

Charles  D:  la  Faye 

The  above  Recorded  is  a  Copy  of  the  L"*  Justices  Let- 
ter to  Lieu'  Gov'  Dummer  of  Boston 

February  11'^  172.5/6  was  Baptized  by  M'  M'Sparran 
Mary  Dickinson  a  child  y*"  Daughter  of  Capt  Jn" 
Dickinson  of  Newport  at  her  Grandfa'"  House  viz 
Sam'  Phillips  of  North-Kingstown  where  she  was  born 

February  24.'''  1725/6  Rich**  Updike  was  Married  to 
Hannah  Eldred  by  M'  M'Sparran  their  Banns  of 
Marriage  haveing  been  first  duly  published  (11 

April  10'^  1 7  a  6  being  Easter  Sunday  was  baptized  at 
S'  Pauls  Church  In  Narraganset  by  M^  Ja'  M'- 
Sparran  3  children  viz'  James,  Sarah,  &  Mary  Cooper 
the  children  of  Stephen  Cooper  admitted  likewise  the 
first  time  to  the  Sacrament  of  y^  Lords  Supper  M'' 
Eliz"  Cole  wife  of  Elisha  Cole  Esq' 

At  S' Paul's  Church  in  Narraganset  ^/rZ/M^  i  i'^i726 
being  Easter  Monday  Present  the  Rev''  M'  M'Sparran 
one  of  the  Church  wardens  and  only  two  of  y*"  Vestry 
altho  publick  and  timely  Notice  was  given  for  y^ 
meeting  of  said  Vestry  by  the  Min'  the  Sunday  before 
according  to  y''  Cannon  and  Rubrick,  voted  y'  y"  Ves- 
try be  adjourned  to  May  the  16'''  that  then  y^  old 
Churchwardens  bring  in  their  annual  accounts  and 
other  things  usual  to  be  transacted  be  then  Consid- 
ered of  and  Done  attest  Ja'  M'Sparran  Cler. 

Upon  Tuesday  may  y'  10'^  1726  died  Mary  Daugh- 


486 


Church  Records 


[1726 


ter  of  Charles  Higgingbotham  and  was  the  next  day 
Interred  in  the  Cch-yard  of  S'  Pauls  in  Narraganset 
after  a  funeral  sermon  Preached  by  M'  M^Sparran 

Ma-^   16'''  1726  at  a  vestry  held  at  y*"  church  of  S' 

Pauls  by  adjournment  from  Easter  Monday  present 

the  Rev''  M'  M'Sparran  &  vestry  they  proceeded  to 

choose  the  following  Gentlemen   in  the  respedive 

offices  following 

Cap'  Tn"  Albro  1  r-u       u         a 

/-I      1      T^-  1  •  T     r  hChurch  wardens 

Charles  Dickmson,  Jun  j 

Tho'  Phillips  Clerk  for  y*"  Responses 

Charles  Dickinson 

Geo.  Balfour 

Sam'  Albro 

Sam'  Phillips 

William  Browne 

William  Gardiner 

Bennoni  Sweet 

Rob'  Case 

Tho^  Phillips 

Christopher  Phillips 

Henry  Gardiner 

Eph.  Gardiner 

Jn°  Case 

Stephen  Cooper 

James  Delpech 

Christopher  Curtis 

Narraganset  yz/«d'6''' 1726  were  joined  together  in  holy 
Matrimony  (after  being  duely  published  and  no  suffi- 
cient objedions  made)  William  Wilkinson  and  Re- 
becca Tomkins  both  of  y'  Part  of  Narraganset  called 
South-Kingstown  (12 

June  the  8"'  1726  Elisha  Cole  Esq'  an  adult  being  sick 
had  clinical  Baptism  administred  to  him  by  M'  M"- 
Sparran  at  said  Coles  House  in  y'  part  of  Narragan- 
set called  North-Kingstown.  (i 


>  Vestry  men 


[ 


1726]  Church  Records  487 

Sunday  June  12'''  1726  baptized  at  the  House  of  Jn° 
Shackmaple  of  New  London  Esq'  by  the  Rev''  M' 
James  M'Sparran3  adult  Persons  viz  Mary  Whittwell, 
Sussannah  Wyatt,  &  AHce  Pell  and  one  Infant  viz: 
Ann  Whitwel.  (4 

June  26, 1 726  at  S'  Pauls  Church  in  Narraganset  were 
baptized  by  y"  Rev''  M'  James  M'Sparran  Margret 
Hackstone  an  adult  Person,  &  Samuel,  John,  James, 
Bennoni,  Elizabeth  &  Isabel  Albro  the  6  children  of 
Cap'  Jn"  Albro.  (7 

Sureties  for  said  Children  were  M'  Dickinson,  Samuel 
Albro,  M^' Albro  &  M"  M^Sparran  all  Communicants 

July  i"  1726  about  11  of  y"  Clock  at  night  Clinical 
Baptism  was  administred  by  M'  M'Sparran  at  y'' 
House  of  William  Gardiner  of  Boston-Neck  to  Joslah 
Arnold  y"  child  of  Josiah  Arnold,  said  Child  being  sick 
and  in  danger  of  Death.  The  Same  Night  upon  y"  like 
occasion  about  2  of  y"  clock  in  y^  Morning  Clinical 
Baptism  was  administred  to  Charles  Higginbotham 
y^  child  of  Doftor  Charles  Higginbotham  at  Said  D"' 
House  (2 

July  1 7'^  1 726  at  S'  Pauls  Cch  in  Narraganset  was  bap- 
tized by  M'  M^Sparran  Hannah  Gardiner  the  Child 
of  Jn°  Gardiner  of  S.  Kingstowne  (i 

August  15'''  1726  Clinick  Baptism  was  administred  to 
Capt  Daniel  Eldred  by  M'  M'^Sparran  who  the  i8"> 
of  said  m°  departed  this  life 

Aug'*  1 6  Charles  Dickinson's  Son  Tho'  Dickinson  was 
baptized  in  Infancy  by  M'  M'^Sparran  (2 

Aug"  2?,  1726  baptized  by  M'M'Sparran  at  M'  Pigots 
a  child  named  James  Alford  (i 

September  1 1""  1726  at  night  Clinick  Baptism  was  ad- 
ministred by  M'  M'^Sp:  to  Abigail  y"  wife  of  Cap' 
Lodowick  Updike  it  being  y*"  6^  year  of  her  age,  and 
to  Hannah  Mitchel  an  adult  likewise  (2 


488  Church  Records  [1726 

September  i8'*  1726  at  New-London  baptized  by  M' 
M^Sparran  a  child  named  Lambert  Tree 

O^loher  i  B""  1726  Clinical  Baptism  was  administred 
to  Mary  Gardiner  y"  wife  of  Will""  Gardiner  Com- 
monly called  Long  William  She  being  dangerously 
sick  by  M'  M'^Sparran  who  died  next  day 

05iober  no)^  was  buried  James  a  twin  Son  of  Capt  Jn° 
Albrow's,  the  next  day  at  Night  died  Elizabeth  his 
Eldest  Daughter,  and  y^  next  Isabella  his  youngest 
Daughter  born  at  one  Birth  with  y*"  aforsaid  James 
w''''  two  Daughters  were  interred  in  one  grave  on  Tues- 
day y'  i"  Day  of  November^  1726 

September y'  17"' were  Joined  togather  at  New  London 
in  holy  Matrimony  Jn°  Gidley  and  Sarah  Shackmaple 
the  man  haveing  been  duely  published  in  y"  Cch  of 
Newport  on  Rhode  Island  and  the  wo"  in  New  Lon- 
don according  to  y^  laws  of  y^  Colony  of  Connedticut 

^      ,  London  Aug"  q""  1726 

Gentlemen  °    ^       ' 

I  have  laid  y^  address  dated  May  y"  20'''  1726  before 
the  Society  [for]  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Forreign  Parts,  and  they  have  agreed  upon  Conside- 
[rati]on  of  the  Good  Charader  you  have  given  M' 
James  Delpech  with  regard  to  his  a[bili]tiesfor  teach- 
ing, his  Morals  and  AfFedion  to  his  Majesty  King 
George  to  allow  him  [an]  annual  Salary  of  Ten 
Pounds  to  commence  from  y*"  time  of  his  teaching 
school.  [You]  will  please  to  acquaint  M'  Delpech  with 
this  allowance  the  Society  have  made  [him]  and  as  you 
must  be  best  acquainted  w'  may  be  the  most  Conven- 
ient Place  for  a  school,  to  fix  it  there;  and  diredl  M' 
Delpech  to  transmit  to  y^  Society  Certificates  signed 
by  you  of  his  due  teaching  school,  and  he  may  draw 
on  the  Treasurer  for  his  Salary;  I  am  Gentlemen 
your  most  humble  servant 
David  Humphreys  Secretary 


1726-7]  Church  Records  489 

Dire5led  on  the  outside 

to  the  min''  Church  Wardens 
and  vestry  of  Narraganset  in 

New-England 
on  y'  inside 
To  the  Church  wardens  and  Vestry  of  Narraganset 

The  above  is  a  true  Record  of  the  Letter  from  the 
Society  Received  by  Post  the  16"'  ofnov''  1726  by  me. 

Ja'  M'Sparran  Cler: 

Nov""  iV^  1726  Abigail  Gardiner  aged  69  years  the 
wife  of  Henry  Gardin[er]  of  Narraganset  was  bap- 
tized by  M'  M'^Sparran  at  said  Gardiners  House  she 
being  sick. 

At  a  vestry  held  at  y^  Cch  of  S'  Paul  in  Narraganset 
Nov'' y'  '^o'''  1725  [sic~\  the  vestry  agreed  M'  Delpech 
should  begin  School  keeping  as  theSociet[ys]  School- 
master at  or  upon  the  21'''  of  Decern'  1726. 
agreed  y^  Same  Day  y'  the  Said  Delpech  be  obliged 
to  take  into  his  Care  and  School  and  there  to  teach 
gratis  such  and  so  many  and  no  other  Children  as  shall 
be  Recommended  by  and  have  a  Certificate  from  y^ 
Mini'  or  Incumbent  for  the  time  Being  y'  such  child 
or  children  are  proper  objefts  of  the  Societys  Charity 
voted  and  agreed  to  nemine  Contradicente 

Decern''  25'''  1726  being  Xmass  and  Sacrament  Day 
Tho^  Bennet  [MJargret  albro  y*"  wife  of  Capt  Jn° 
Albro  and  Mary  Gardiner  wife  [of]  Jn°  Gardiner  Re- 
ceived y*"  Sacrament  of  y^  Lords  Supper  at  y"  Cch  of 
[S']  Pauls  y"  first  time 

Jan''y  i"  1726/7  were  Joined  together  in  Holy  Matri- 
mony by  M'  M^Sparran  Samuel  Carr  of  Connanicut 
and  Sussannah  Spink  of  N"  Kingstown  in  Narragan- 
set the  Banns  being  first  duely  published  in  Church  (14 

Sunday  Jan^y  11^  I'jiGj^  baptized  by  M'  M'Sparran 
three  children  of  Jn°  Launce  Namely  Ann,  Eleanor, 


490  Church  Records  [1726-7 

and  Martha  Launce  the  Same  Day  a  child  named  Jo- 
siah  Arnold  baptized  in  sickness  was  received  into 
Congregation  with  Suretys 

Sunday  Jarfy  ig""  1726/7  William  Phillips  the  child 
of  Christopher  Phillips  was  baptized  by  M'  M'Spar- 
ran 

/'>^rz<^ryi6'''i726/7Cap^  Jonathan  Dickinson  was  mar- 
ried to  M"  Mary  Cole  by  the  Rev''  M^  M'Sparran  (15 

March  16'*'  1726  Joseph  Northrup  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Cooper  by  y*'  Rev"*  M'  M'Sparran  at  the 
Cch  of  S'  Paul  in  Narraganset  (16 

April  2^  172.7  being  Easter  Day  were  admitted  to  y^ 
Lords  Supper  for  y^  first  time  y*"  following  Persons 
viz:  Cap'  Jn°  Albro,  M'^  Ruhamah  Still  y'^  wife  of 
Cap'  Jn°  Still,  M^^  Abigail  Gardiner  wife  of  Henry 
Gardiner  &  Sussannah  Baker  the  N"  of  Coicants  Said 
Day  were  20 

S'  Pauls  Cch  Narraganset  April  17'^  1727  at  a  vestry 
voted  y'  M'  Christopher  Phillips  Sustain  y"  place  of 
Cch  warden  for  the  remaining  part  of  this  Year  in 
Room  of  Charles  Dickinson  Jun'  who  is  removed  out 
of  town 

—  15'''  1727  John  Case  of  Tower  Hill  was  married 

to  Philippa  Dickinson  at  Her  fath''  house  by  y^  Rev"* 

James  M'Sparran 

Voted  y'  the   said   Gentlemen  be  Vestry  Men  who 

Stand  chosen  for  last  year  as  their  names  Stand  re- 

gistred  in  page  21'' 

The  Same  day  voted  y'  the  Church  wardens  Dispose 

of  M'  Yeo'  Pew  in  the  Gallery  to  such  ^son  as  does, 

or  is  like  to  come  constantly  to  church 

September  2'^  1727  Jn°  Gardiner  an  adult  (Son  of  V^il- 
liam)  being  dangerously  sick  had  Clinical  Baptism  ad- 
ministred  to  him  by  y''  Rev''  M'  M'Sparran 


1727]  Church  Records  491 

September  4'''  1727  Mary  Allen  an  adult  being  danger- 
ously sick  had  clinical  Baptism  administred  to  her  by 
M'  M'Sparran 

Sepf  ii""  1727  William  a  child  of  7  mo'  old  and  Son 
of  Christopher  Phillips  of  No:  Kingstown  was  buried 
in  y^  Church  Yard  of  S'  Pauls  in  Narraganset 

M''  Margret  albro  died  in  ^br  &  W'"  poor  in  nov" 
1727 

Decern^  6'''  1727  baptized  at  Groton  by  M'  M^Sparran 
two  children  of  Sam'  Burrows's  namely  Elizabeth  and 
Abigail 

The  next  day  viz  y'''  of  Decern''  1727  were  married  Tho' 
Mumford  to  Abigail  Cheesbrough  by  M'  M'Sparran 
at  Stoneingtown 

Two  adults  viz'  Joseph  Mumford  of  South  Kings- 
towne  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Cap'  Stephen  arnold 
of  Warwick  were  both  baptized  at  y"  Church  of  St 
Pauls  in  Narraganset  by  M'  M"Sparran  on  Sunday  the 
i']'^  of  Decern"  1727 

This  acct  of  Baptisms  transmitted 

Stephen,  John,  Richard  and  Caleb  Mumford  the  4 

Sons  of  Joseph  Mumford  Esq'  were  baptized  at  his 

House  y"^  29"'  of  Decern"  1727  by  M'  M'Sparran 

St  Pauls  Cch,  Narraganset,  baptized  by  M'  M'Spar- 
ran  Decern"  31"  1727  Eber  Indian  an  adult 

Decern"  31"  1727  about  7,  o',  y"  clock  in  the  morning 
died  at  Westerly  Hannah  Gardiner  Daughter  of  Jn" 
and  Mary  Gardiner  of  Narraganset  aged  4  years  8  mo' 
and  9  Days,  and  was  buried  by  M'  M'Sparran  accord- 
ing to  y"  Manner  of  y"  Church  of  England,  at  said 
Westerly,  th.Q.  first  Day  of  January  1727  \jic~\ 

January  11^  1727  about  9  o'  the  clock  post  meridiem 
[j"/V]  died  at  ConnanicutLydia  Arnold  the  wife  of  Josiah 
Arnold,  and  Daughter  of  William  and  abigail  Gardi- 


492  Church  Records  [1727-8 

ner  of  Boston  Neck  in  Narraganset  aged  1 1  years  lack- 
ing 5  Days,  and  upon  the  24'''  was  buried  according 
to  the  Manner  of  y^  Church  of  England  in  S'  Pauls 
church  yard  in  said  Narraganset  by  M'  M'Sparran 
who  also  preached  a  Sermon  upon  y'  Occasion.  (She 
died  in  Child  Birth.) 

March  ly'''  1727  Deborah  onion  an  Indianess  and 
adult  wife  of  John  Onion  an  Englishman  being  sick 
had  clinick  Baptism  administred  to  Her  by  M' 
M'Sparran  in  Narraganset  they  had  been  married  by 
M^  MacSparran  (18 

Sunday  April  14'''  1728  at  S'  Paul's  Church  in  Narra- 
gansetwas  baptized  by  M'M'^Sparran  Thomas  Hazard 
an  adult 

Good  Friday  April  19'''  1728  was  baptized  publickly 
at  S'  the  Church  of  S'  Paul  in  Narraganset  by  y''  Rev'' 
M'  M'Sparran  his  Negro  Servant  Man  Named 
Richard 

At  the  Church  of  S'  Paul  Easter  Monday  April  ni^ 
1728  present  the  Rev"*  M'  M'^Sparran  Reftor  the  Con- 
gregation voted  y'  M'  Christopher  Phillips  be  con- 
tinued Cch  warden  the  ensuing  year,  the  same  Day 
Voted  by  y"  min'  and  Congregation  y'  M'  Ephraim 
Gardiner  be  junior  church  warden 
At  y^  Same  Time  was  chosen  Clerk  by  y"  Min'  M' 
Tho^  Phillips 

The  Same  Day  voted  by  y''  Congregation  y'  y^  Vestry 
shall  for  this  ensueing  Year  Consist  only  of  1 5  Gentle- 
men of  y^  Congregation,  as  follows  exclusive  of  y"  Cch 
wardens  and  clerk 

Charles  Dickinson  Joseph  Mumford 

George  Balfour  Henry  Gardiner 

Sam'  Phillips  William  Gardiner 

Sam'  Albro  Jn°  Gardiner 

Elisha  Cole  Rob'  Case 


1728]  church  Records  493 

Jn"  Case  Stephen  Cooper 

Jn"  Albro  Josiah  Arnold 

Bennoni  Sweet 
The  Same  Day  Voted,  y^  the  first  Sunday  after  Mid- 
summer, Michaelmass,  Christmass  &  Lady  Day  an- 
nually there  be  a  Contribution  made  in  the  Church 
by  the  Congregation,  and  the  money  so  collefted  by 
the  church  wardens,  to  be  a  stock  and  at  y"  Disposi- 
tion of  y^  Vestry  for  the  Repairs  of  the  church  and 
other  uses  y'  they  shall  agree  to  put  it  to 
Voted  likewise  y'  y""  church  wardens  have  six  pence 
"^  pound,  out  of  all  money  at  any  time  colledted  by 
them,  except  the  offerings  at  y*"  Sacrament  &  y^  money 
gathered  for  y*"  support  of  the  Min' 

May  y'  5'''  1728  baptized  at  New- London  by  M' 
M'Sparran  a  female  child  named  Witherel-Denison 
Wyat. 

May  y'  9'^  1728  the  Rev''  M^  M'^Sparran  at  y"  House 
of  Jn°  Hill  of  Westerly  Esq'  did  join  together  in  holy 
Matrimony  John  Belden  of  Norwalk  in  Connecticut 
to  Ruhamah  Hill  Daughter  of  said  Jn°  Hill 

May  19"'  1728  Thomas  Phillips  the  son  of  Tho'  Phil- 
lips of  N°  Kingstowne  an  Infant  was  baptized  at  y^ 
church  of  S'  Paul  by  M'  M^Sparran 

July  28  1728  Tho'  Bizwel  Son  of  Samuel  Bizwel  a 
child  of  about  4  years  had  clinical  Baptism  administred 
to  Him  by  M^  M^Sparran 

July  28  1728  Thomas  Phillips  the  Son  of  Tho^  Phil- 
lips of  North  Kingstowne  departed  this  Life  the  26 
&  was  buryed  in  the  church  Yard  the  28  aforesaid 

Aug''  1^  1728  this  Day  was  baptized  William  Gardi- 
ner an  Adult  at  M'  M'Sparrans  house  conditionally 
Auf  6^^  1728  at  S'  Pauls  was  baptized  by  M'  M'Spar- 
ran  Sylv'  Arnold  a  child  y'^  son  of  Josiah  &  Lydia 
Arnold  in  Child  birth  of  whom  his  mof  died. 


494  Church  Records  [1728 

August  11"'  1728  at  St  Pauls  was  baptized  by  M' 
M^'Sparran  Mary  Phillips  the  wife  of  Tho'  Phillips 
and  Daughter  of  Samuel  Browne,  upon  her  own  pro- 
fession of  Faith 

August  2.5'''  1728  at  St  Pauls  was  baptized  Benjamin 
Mumford  and  Ann  his  wife  both  adults  by  M'  M*"- 
Sparran 

August  28'^  1728  at  the  House  of  Benj"  Mumford  pub- 
lick  Baptism  was  administred  by  M'  M'^Sparran  to  his 
4  children  viz":  Samuel,  Thomas,  Peter  and  Phebe 
Mumford 

September  id^  1728  M''  Ann  chase  y"  wife  of  Cap' 
Jn°  Chase  of  Newport  was  baptized  by  M'  M'Sparran 
at  Narraganset  Consent  thereunto  being  before  had 
of  M'  Honyman  the  Min'  of  Newport  immer[sion] 

o5loher  12"'  1728  about  10  of  y*"  clock  at  Night  at  y" 
House  of  Elisha  Sheerman  was  baptized  in  his  bed  he 
being  verry  sick  said  Elisha  Sheerman  by  M'  M'^Spar- 
ran 

January  13"'  1728  at  a  Vestry  called  at  the  Instance 
of  M"  James  Delpech  the  Societys  schoolmaster  for 
Narraganset  and  met  at  the  House  of  M'  M'Sparran 
the  Question  was  put  whether  M'  Delpech  has  so 
taught  school  for  this  last  year  to  the  Satisfaction  of 
the  Vestry  that  they  will  sign  certificates  of  his  due 
teaching  in  order  to  be  transmitted  to  y"  Society  and 
it  passed  in  the  negative 

The  Same  Day  M'  James  Delpech  Requested  the 
Vestry  to  dismiss  Him  from  the  Service  of  the  So- 
ciety as  their  Schoolmaster  at  Narraganset,  and  the 
Question  being  put  whether  said  M'  Delpech  should 
be  dismissed,  it  passed  in  the  affirmative 

Feb  19'''  1728  at  Groton  in  Connedlicut  was  baptized 
by  M'  M'Sparran  two  children  viz:  Thomas  Mum- 
ford &  Thankful  Parker 


1728]  church  Records  495 

Narraganset  Feb  16  1728  baptized  by  M'  M 'Spar- 
ran  a  child  named  Christopher  Phillips 

ffeb"  28:  att  a  Vestery  Meeting  held  att  the  Church 
of  S'  Pauls,  in  Narragansett  it  was  Voated  &  agreed 
that  M'  Jn"  Gardner  Should  Sitt  in  Cap'  William 
Gardners  pew  in  the  Right  of  the  s''  W""  Gardner  & 
att  the  Same  Time  the  s''  Jn"  Gardners  Pew  is  De- 
clared Vacant  till  Such  time  as  the  s*^  Jn"  Gardner 
Shall  Return  to  his  own  Pew  in  a  Regular  Manner 
With  the  Consent  of  the  Vestry. 
At  the  said  meeting  of  the  Vestry  at  the  curch  \_sic'\ 
of  St  Paul  in  the  Narraganset  duly  summoned  and 
assembled  at  said  curch  this  1%'''  feb:  1728  in  order 
to  consider  and  agree  upon  proper  measures  and 
rules  for  the  preventing  Jarrs  and  contentions  and 
furthering  and  secureing  peace  and  good  order  in  the 
congregation  especially  respedling  pews  necessary  car- 
ges  [jzV]&c^  present  the  Rev*^  M'  M'Sparran  Redor 

1  be  it  ana6ted  by  the  minister  curch  wardens  and  ves- 
try, and  it  is  hereby  anadled  by  them.  That  all  and 
every  person  occupant  or  Possesor  of  any  pew  in 
said  curch,  or  y'  hereafter  shall  be  so  shall  be  liable 
to  pay  towards  the  support  of  Relegion  and  Decency 
of  Gods  publick  worship  Such  particular  Qouto 
\_Q^uota\  as  the  vestry  for  the  time  being,  or  a  Com- 
mttee  chosen  by  them  shall  judge  theirejust  and 
equitable  proportion,  according  to  theire  abilitys 
and  privileges  in  said  curch  under  the  penalty  of 
forfiting  such  pew,  wich  upon  such  forfiture  shall 
by  the  curch  wardens  empowered  thereunto  by  the 
vestry  for  the  time  being  be  sold  for  the  common 
Benifit  of  the  congregation. 

2  be  it  anaded  (ut  supra) 

That  upon  any  pews  becoming  vacant  by  the 
Death,  Removeal  or  defection  from  the  curch  of 
the  possesor  or  occupant  theireof  y'  in  all  such 


496  Church  Records  [1728 

cases  the  Disposal  of  said  pew  or  pews  shall  be  only 
in  the  vestry  and  the  money  ariseing  from  said  Dis- 
posal to  be  Deposited  with  the  curch  wardens  for 
the  time  being  as  the  churches  money  to  be  Dis- 
posed of  only  by  the  Vestry  and  for  the  common 
Benefit  of  the  congregation ;  nevertheless  this  a6t  is 
qualified  and  to  be  understood  with  the  tow  foUo- 
ing  provisors  limitations  or  Restridtions;  as  (i) 
when  the  clamer  or  Possesor  of  any  pew  dies  leaving 
childring  or  legal  Representatives  members  of  the 
church  of  England,  of  Capacity  and  willing  to  con- 
tribute theire  proportionable  part  of  charge  towards 
the  Support  of  Religion  and  Decency  of  the  pub- 
lique  worship  they  shall  succeed  into  the  Room 
and  priviledges  of  said  predecesor  but  if  the  chil- 
dren or  Representatives  as  aforesaid  shall  at  the 
Demise  of  thare  father  or  predecesor  possesor  of 
any  pew  happen  to  be  minors  y'  then  the  use  Im- 
provement and  disposal  of  said  pew  be  and  remain 
in  the  vestry  until  they  the  said  minors  arrive  at  the 
age  and  capacity  to  comply  with  the  order  of  the 
vestry  in  such  cases  already  provided  and  (2)  whereas 
this  a6l  declares  all  pews  to  become  vacant  by  the 
Defedion  or  falling  off  of  theire  possesors  or  occu- 
pants from  the  church  it  is  hereby  provided  y'  upon 
the  Reconciliation  of  said  person  or  persons  to  the 
church  in  A  proper  manner,  they  shall  upon  appli- 
cation to  the  vestry  be  either  restored  to  their  for- 
mer place,  or  seated  to  their  satisfadlion  elsewhere 
upon  such  terms  as  the  vestry  shall  think  just  and 
reasonable,  but  in  the  mean  time  the  pew  or  pews 
to  be  Disposed  of  as  in  cases  of  common  vacancy; 
a  tender  regard  being  always  had  to  the  children  or 
representatives  of  such  Backsliders  whilest  they 
continue  to  frequent  Gods  publique  worship  here. 
3  be  it  anadled  &c  y'  all  and  every  person  or  persons 
neither  Inhabitants  nor  Residents  of  Narraganset 


1728]  Church  Records  497 

y'  have  any  claim  or  pretension  of  Right  to  any  pew 
in  said  church  be  henceforth  obliged  to  comply 
with  the  orders  of  the  vestry  here  with  Regard  to 
theire  defraying  theire  proportion  of  charge  as  if 
they  lived  and  constantly  attended  the  publick  wor- 
ship here  under  the  penalty  of  forfiting  said  pew  or 
pews  to  the  benifit  of  the  congregation  to  be  dis- 
posed of  by  order  of  the  vestry  as  in  y^  common 
case  of  vacancy. 

4  that  when  any  person  already  seated  shal  incline  to 
move  into  a  more  comodious  vacant  pew  (i  e  a  pew 
declared  vacant  by  the  vestry  it  must  be  by  apply- 
cation  to  the  vestry  assembled  and  to  them  only 
of  whom  he  may  purchase  said  vacancy 

5  be  it  anadled  &c:  that  when  any  affair  of  any  Re- 
lation or  Importance  to  this  church  is  laid  before 
the  vestry  wich  Requirs  space  of  time  to  deliberate 
upon  it  or  wich  may  be  thought  to  be  more  easily 
consulted  upon  accomplished  dispadlhed  [sic^  or 
perfected  by  a  smaler  number  than  the  whole  ves- 
try that  then  and  in  all  such  cases  the  minister 
for  the  time  being  be  requested  to  condescend  y'  a 
committee  of  a  certain  number  be  impowered  to 
consider  and  consult  upon  and  make  theire  Report 
to  the  Vestry  or  congregation  where  that  may  be 
proper  provided  y'  when  the  committee  of  the  ves- 
try amount  to  5  or  upwards  y'  y^  tow  church  war- 
dens for  the  time  being  be  of  that  committee. 

6  The  Vestry  being  y"  Representative  of  the  whole 
congregation  theire  a6ls  and  decrees  shall  at  all 
times  bind  every  particular  member  of  the  congre- 
gation in  all  matters  relating  to  the  peace  good  or- 
der and  management  of  the  affairs  of  y*"  church, 
and  all  nonsubmission  to  theire  orders  shall  be 
Beamed  contumacious  provided  nevertheless,  that 
when  any  person  or  persons  are  aggrieved  at  any 
a6t  or  order  of  said  vestry,  they  shall  be  entitled 


498  Church  Records  [1728-9 

in  proper  and  decent  manner  to  sue  to  said  ves- 
try for  Redress  wheather  by  endedvouring  [sic]  an 
alteration  amendment  or  Repeal  of  the  a6l  pro- 
duceing  theire  Grievances  as  y''  circumstances  of 
the  matter  shall  stand. 

At  the  said  vestry  the  following  pews  where  [jzV] 

voted  vacant  videlicet 

N°  8  the  pew  of  M'  Charles  Dickinson  Jun' 

N"  9  in  the  Gallery  the  pew  of  M'  Yeo 

N°  23  the  pew  of  M'  William  Brown 

N°  13  the  pew  of  M'  John  Gardiner 

Att  a  vestry  meeting  att  the  Church  March  3 1 :  1729 
the  Committy  Appointed  to  Draw  Up  &  present  to 
the  Vestry  some  Rules  to  be  hereafter  Governed  by 
for  the  Augmenting  &  Establishing  the  Ministers 
Sallary,  have  this  Day  presented  a  Report  of  their 
proceedings  in  s"*  Affair,  which  Report  was  Voated  and 
Rec*^  by  s**  Vestry: 

The  Report  here  Referr'd  to  Bare's  Date  March  10: 
i728/9Sign-  by  Christ'  Phillips      \^^^^^^  hardens 

rLphraim  Gardner] 

Jn"  Albro  \ 

Jos.  Mumford  V  Committy 

Josias  Arnold    j 

Att  a  congreation  Meeting  held  att  the  Church  of 
S'  Paul  in  Narragansett  on  Easter  Monday  April  7: 
1729  Present  y"  Reverend  M'  M"Sparran  Rec" 
the  Minnister  Chose 

M'  Ephraim  Gardner,  i"  Ch:  Warden 
the  Congregation  Chose 

M'  Joseph  Mumford,  2  Ch  Warden 
the  Congregation  Chose  the  following  persons  vestry 
men  for  the  Ensueing  Year  Viz' 

M'  Charles  Dickinson  \ 

M'  George  Balfour        >    Vestry  Men 

M^  Sam"  Phillips  J 


1729] 


church  Records 


499 


M'  Sam"  Albro 

M^  EHsha  Cole 

M^  Jn°  Case 

M'  Benoni  Sweet 

Wl'  ]n°  Albro 

M^  Joseph  Mumford 

M'  Henery  Gardner      >    Vestry  Men 

M^  Jn°  Gardner 

M^  Rob'  Case 

M^  Benja  Mumford 

M^  Tho^  Phillips 

M^  Chrisf  Phillips 

M'  Stephen  Cowper 

April  1^^  1729  Leuitenant  William  Mumford  of  South 
Kingstown  was  married  to  the  widow  ann  Ray  alias 
ann  Wilson  by  M'  M'^Sparran  (20 

May  18'''  1729  Jn°  Innis  married  to  Elizabeth  Austin 
both  of  North  Kingstowne  by  M'  M'Sparran       (21 

abigail  Mumford  daughter  of  Joseph  Mumford  was 
baptized  at  said  M'  Mumford's  the  7'^'  Bay  of  July 
1729  by  M'  M'Sparran 

Tho'  Buckmaster  a  child  was  baptized  by  M'  M'^Spar- 
ran  with  clinick  baptism  at  M'  Buckmasters  Aug''  28''' 
1729 

Amoz  Gardiner  a  child,  Son  of  Jn°  Gardiner  baptized 
at  the  Cch  of  S'  Paul  in  Narraganset  September  the  7''' 
1729 

Samuel  Power  son  of  Joseph  and  Abigail  Power,  a 
child  of  about  11  or  12  years  old,  had  clinick  Bap- 
tism administred  to  him  by  y*"  Rev'^  M'  M'Sparran 
minister  of  the  Cch  of  Engl**  in  Narraganset  the  28''' 
Day  of  September  ijig 

Christopher  Dickinson  Son  of  Samuel  &  Mary  Dick- 
inson was  baptized  by  M'  M'^Sparran  at  S'  Paul's  in 
Narraganset  Nov"   2''  1729  (tS^"  Said   Mary   Dickin- 


500  Church  Records        [1729-30 

son  was  the  wife  of  Jonathan  Dickinson,  after  whose 
demise  she  incestuously  contra6led  marriage  with  Sam- 
uel Dickinson  Bro'  to  said  Jonathan,  and  said  Chris- 
topher is  the  child  of  y'  Incestuous  Conjun6lion,  but 
haveing  unexceptionable  Sponsors  was  baptized  as 
aforesaid 

Monday  17"'  of  Nov"  1729  M'  M'Sparran  preached  to 
a  large  Congregation  at  Warwick  and  baptized  Ste- 
phen Arnold  an  adult  youth  &  Mary  Arnold  a  child 
both  the  children  of  Cap'  Stephen  Arnold  of  said 
Town 

'Tuesday  the  16"'  of  Decern"  1729  M'  M'Sparran  being 
sent  for  to  providence  did  then  and  there  baptize  Job 
Harris  an  adult  being  far  gone  in  a  Consumption  and 
in  appearance  near  his  Death.  [&  died  ye  day  after]. 

Saturday  March  14:  I'jigjip  Then  administrd  Cli- 
nick  Baptism  to  two  children  of  Cap'  Jn°  Albro  viz: 
Stephen  and  Margret,  the  Son  by  his  former,  y^ 
Daughter  by  his  p"  Wife. 

Easter  Day  March  29'^  1730  baptized  at  y*"  Church  of 
S'  Paul  in  Narraganset  by  y"  Rev''  M'  M'Sparran  Re- 
becca Green  a  Child  of  about  10  years  old,  her  Sure- 
ties were  her  Mistress  M''  Sarah  Updike,  M''  Kath- 
rine  Updike  &  M'  Tho'  phillips. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Congregation  at  S'  Paul's  Church 

in  Narraganset  on  Easter  Monday  March  30'''  1730, 

present  the  Rev**  M'Sparran  Reftor 

M'  Joseph  Mumford  )      ^,        ,    ^^j     1 
i\/ir  T     •  u  A       1^        ^      Church  Wardens 
M   Josiah  Arnold 

M'  Cha.  Dickinson 

M'  Geo.  Balfour 

M'  Sam>  Phillips  ,    ^  ^ 

M^  Sam' Albro  '    ^  ^^^^  ^^^^^ 

W  Tho^  Hafzard 

M'  Benoni  Sweet 


» 


1729-30]        church  Records  501 


'  Vestry  Men 


M^  Hen^  Gardner  Jn'^ 
M'  W'"  Gardner 
M^  Jn°  Gardner 
M^  Tho^  Phillips 
M'  Chrisf  Phillips 
M'  Ephraim  Gardner 
Cap'  Jn°  Albro 
M'  Benja.  Mumford 

Att  the  Meeting  of  s"^  Congregation  on  the  thirteth 
\_sic\  of  March  afore  s"^  the  Vestry  Ordered  the  Pew 
which  was  Thomas  Lillibridges,  Should  be  M'  Sam" 
Bissells,  S'*  Lillibridge  haveing  forfitted  s''  Pew  S"*  Bis- 
sell  Complying  with  the  Orders  of  the  Committy 

April  12'^  1730  the  Rev'*  M'  M'Sparran  baptized  at 
New  London  a  child  named  William  Henderson  — 
&  preached  there  to  a  Large  Congregation 

Jn°  Dye  aged  105  years  departed  this  Life  March  y' 
3"^  1729/30  &  was  interred  [in]  y''  churchyard  of  S' 
Paul's  in  Narraganset 

Isabella  albro  wife  of  Sam'  albro  aged  between  86  & 
88  departed  this  Life  april  Y  i'^  1730  &  was  interred 
in  y^  burying  place  belonging  to  said  Samuel  Albro  in 
his  own  Ground  in  North  Kingstown  y''  2>^  of  said 
Month 

Margret  Albro  Daughter  of  Cap'  Jn"  Albro  &  bar- 
bara  his  wife  a  child  departed  this  Life  April  19'''  1730 
&  was  buried  April  ao'''  in  s''  Albro'  burying  place 

Westerly  in  Narraganset  Christopher  Champlin  Son 
of  Cap'  Christopher  Champlin  and  Hannah  Hill 
Daughter  of  Cap' Jn°  Hill  werejoined  togetherin  holy 
Matrimony  April  11'^  1730  by  the  Rev''  M'  M'Spar- 
ran  at  y'^  House  of  S"*  Cap' Jn°  Hill  (22 

N°  Kingstown  in  Narraganset  April  11,^  1730  Samuel 
Bentley  and  Susannah  Baker  were  joined  together  in 


502  church  Records  [1730 

holy  Matrimony  by  the  Rev^  M'  M'Sparran  at  his 
House  (23 

May  the  of  1730  Daniel  Updike  attorney  General  for 
y''  Colony  of  Rhode  Island  &c  &  Lv'  Colonel  of  y" 
Militia  of  the  Islands  in  said  Colony  was  baptized  by 
the  Rev''  M'  M'^Sparran  by  Immersion  in  the  pres- 
ence of  said  M'  M'Sp:  Hannah  MfSparran  his  Wife 
&  M'  Josiah  Arnold  Church  Warden,  as  his  witnesses 

June  24.'''  1730  were  joined  together  in  holy  Matrimo- 
nyJohnFowler  &  Mary  How  by  M'  M'Sparran     (24 

July  19"'  1730  was  baptized  at  S'  Paul's  church  by  M' 
M'^Sparran  Emblo  african  a  negro  child  &  slave  be- 
longing to  said  M'  M'Sp: 

O^oher  15'''  1730  Joseph  Torry  &  Elizabeth  Wilson 
were  joined  together  in  holy  Matrimony  at  the  House 
of  Cap'  Jeremiah  Wilson  in  South  Kingstown  by  the 
Rev'  M^  M^Sparran  (25 

October  18"'  1730  Stephen  Shearman  and  Margret 
Hackstone  were  joined  together  in  holy  Matrimony 
at  the  House  of  M'  M'^Sparran  in  North  Kingstown 
by  said  M'  M'^Sparran  (26 

Decern'^  9"'  1730  M'  M^Sparran  preached  at  the  House 
of  M'  Benj"  Mumford  in  y'  part  of  Narraganset  called 
South  Kingstowne  and  baptized  4  children  viz :  George 
Mumford  the  son  of  said  Benj"  the  Suretys  were 
M^  M'^Sparran,  Joseph  Mumford  Esq^  and  M"  ann 
pierce  and  Jn"  Joseph  &  Sarah  Wilkinson  the  chil- 
dren of  William  Wilkinson,  their  Suretys  were  said 
M'  M'^Sparran  Joseph  Mumford  ann  pierce  and  Ann 
Mumford. 

Decern"  31"  1730  at  the  House  of  Henry  Gardiner 
Jun'  were  joined  together  in  holy  Matrimony  by  the 
Rev''  M'  M'Sparran  Thomas  potter  and  Hannah  Gar- 
diner Daughter  of  said  Henry  (26  \jic~\ 

Sunday  March  7'''  1730  There  were  baptized  by  M' 


I 


I730-I] 


church  Records 


503 

M'^Sparran  at  y^  church  of  S'  Paul  in  Narraganset  1 
children  of  William  Gardiner  of  South  Kingstowne  y" 
Son  of  Henry:  viz:  John  and  Abigail  their  Suretys 
were  M'  &  M"  M'Sparran,  Ephraim  Gardiner  and 
M'"  Ann  Mumford;  Likewise  two  Indian  Slaves  be- 
longing to  M'^  Eliz'^  Cole  an  adult  named  Judith  and 
her  child  named  Jane  their  Sureties  &  witnesses  were 
s''  M^and  M^'  M'Sparran  and  their  Mistress  Elizabeth 
Cole 

On  Easter  Monday  April  19:  1731  att  a  Meeting  of 
the  Congregation  of  the  Church  of  S'  Pauls  present 
the  Rev"*  M^  M^Sparran  Rq& 
The  ffollowing  persons  Chosen 
M^  Jn°  Gardner 
M^  Nath"  Norton 


Church  Wardens 


M'  Cha.  Dickinson 

M'  Geo.  Balfour 

M^  Sam"  Albro 

M'  Sam"  Phillips 

M^  Joseph  Mumford 

Cap'  Jn"  Albro 

M^  Tho=  Phillips 

M'  Benoni  Sweet  [-  Vestry  Men 

M^  William  Gardner 

M'  Hen'  Gardner 

M'  Ephraim  Gardner 

M'  Christ  Phillips 

M'  Josiah  Arnold 

M'  Benja.  Mumford 

M'  Tho^  Hafzard 

July  the  i"^  Day  1731  at  the  House  of  Joseph  Mum- 
ford of  So:  Kingstowne  was  baptized  by  M'  M'Spar- 
ran  Joseph  Mumford  a  child  of  s''  M'  Mumford's  the 
Sponsers  were  M'  M'Sparran  Cap'  Rich''  Mumford 
&  M'^  Eliz^  Cole 

Jug"  Y'  1 73 1  att  y^  House  of  Christopher  Curtis  M' 


504  Church  Records  [1731 

M-^Sparran  M^  Charles  Dickinson  &  M"  Phillip  Case 
being  sponsors  was  baptized  Samuel  Curtis  being  sick, 
he  is  a  child  of  almost  5  years  old  baptized  by  M' 
M^Sparran 

28"'  1 73 1  M'  M'Sparran  administred  Clinick  bap- 
tism [at]  the  house  of  Xpher  phillips  to  his  child 
Peter  Phillips  he  being  dangerously  sick 

o^ober  10'''  1731  at  S'  Paul's  in  Narraganset  was  bap- 
tized by  M^  M'Sparran  the  child  of  Cap'  Jn°  Albro 
named  Eliz^  Albro;  the  Sponsors  William  Gardiner 
son  of  Henry  M^'  M^Sparran  and  Mr^  Cole 

%hr  29'^  1 73 1  Mary  Shearman  wife  of  Elisha  Shear- 
man had  clinick  Baptism  administred  to  her  by  M' 
M'Sparran 

Nov''  15'''  1 73 1  Sam'  Browne  of  So:  Kingstowne  an 
adult  baptized  by  M'  M'Sparran  by  Immer:  the  wit- 
nesses were  Ephraim  Gardiner,  M'  &  M'"  M'Sparran 

'Nov'  11^  173 1  Abigail  Gardiner  an  adult  &  wife  of 
William  Gardiner  of  Boston  Neck  in  Narraganset  be- 
ing abroad  on  a  visit  at  her  sister  Mumford's  at  Gro- 
ton  was  there  baptized  by  her  son  in  Law  the  Rev** 
M'  M'Sparran  the  witnesses  were  her  Bro'  and  sister 
Mumford  and  M''  Pierce  [all  CoTcants  in  the  Cch] 

Nov""  29'''  1 73 1  Christopher  Champlin  a  child  and  son 
of  Xtopher  &  Hannah  Champlin  the  Daughter  of 
Cap*  Jn°  Hill  of  Westerly  was  baptized  at  said  Cham- 
plin's  house  by  M'  M^Sparran  the  Suretys  were  the 
Rev'*  M^^  M^Sparran  &  Seabury  and  M'=  Hannah 
Mumford  of  Groton 

Feb  V  Day  1731  Daniel  Gill  was  married  to  Hannah 
Kingsly  by  M'  M'Sparran  (27 

Whereas  it  is  thought  necessary  by  the  Min'',  Cch 
Wardens  and  united  vestries  of  Kings  chappel  and 
Xts  Cch  at  Boston  in  New  England,  y*  a  Sum  of 
money  be  raised  to  lay  the  Sufferings  of  the  Cchmen 


173 1]  Church  Records  505 

in  this  Province  &c''  before  the  King  in  Council,  and 
to  prosecute  the  matter  efFe6tually  in  England,  and  if 
any  Money  shall  remain  after  the  said  Prosecution 
shall  be  ended,  y'  it  be  kept  in  y*"  Hands  of  y*"  Cch 
wardens  for  y^  time  being  of  Kings  chappel  and 
Christs'  Cch  aforsaid,  as  a  stock  to  defend  and  pro- 
mote the  Interest  of  the  Cch  of  England  in  New 
England 

And  y'  it  be  recommend  [sic]  to  all  persons  who  have 
any  affedion  or  Compassion  for  this  sound  and  ex- 
cellent (however  at  present,  in  this  Part  of  y*"  world 
Suffering  and  afflided)  Cch,  to  afford  their  charitable 
assistance. 

We  therefore  the  Subscribers,  Inhabitants  of  Narra- 
ganset,  Mbrs  of,  and  wellwishers  to  y"  Cch  of  Eng- 
land, in  testimony  of  our  Concurrence  with  all  such 
wise  Measures  as  may  be  taken  for  y"  Cchh'es  Good, 
do  give  the  Sums  opposite  to  our  Names,  for  y"  uses 

aforsaid  ^^  ,^      7  ^, 

Narraganset  March  6     1731 


Charles  Dickinson  p'^ 

£  2 

0 

.0 

Geo.  Balfour  p*^ 

I  3 

0 

0 

Joseph  Mumford  p'' 

£  ^'' 

0 

0 

Will"  Gardiner  Jun^  p'^ 

£   i: 

0 

0 

Geo.  Mumford  p'' 

£  I 

0 

.0 

Benj"  Peckham  p'^ 

£00 

10 

0 

Jonath  Turner  (?)  p'^ 

£  I 

0 

:o 

Benj"  Mumford  p'^ 

£0 

5 

.0 

Henry  Willis  p*^ 

£  0 

10 

0 

Jn"  Case  p'' 

£0 

15 

0 

Chrisf  Phillips  p" 

£  2 

10 

0 

Nath'  Norton  p" 

£  2 

00 

.0 

Mary  Phillips  marito  absente 

£  I 

00 

0 

Ester  Powel  p'' 

£  I 

10 

0 

Eliz^  Cole  p'^ 

£  I 

00 

0 

Josiah  arnold  p'* 

£  3 

00 

.0 

£  I 

OO 

0 

£  > 

.00 

0 

£  I 

.00 

0 

£  I 

00 

0 

£° 

:i5 

0 

£o 

.  10 

0 

£o 

:  10 

0 

506  church  Records  [1731 

Chrisf  Curtis  p** 
Ephr.  Gardiner  p"* 
Henry  Gardiner  p'' 
Jn°  Gardiner  p*^ 
Sam'  Bizwel  p'* 
Sam'  Brown  p** 
Jn"  Albro  p' 

^28:15:0 

a  Record  of  Money  sent  to  Boston  for  y"  uses  above 
Specified 

Boston  april  17'''  1732 

Rev''  Sir:  This  morning  I  received  the  J^iS  :  15  w""" 
you  was  so  good  as  to  gather  among  y'  People;  to  w'" 
in  the  behalf  of  the  Committee  I  return  thanks 

Jn"  Gibbins 
Copy  of  receipt  for  Money  in  y'  Subscription 

Easier  Monday  april  9'^  1732  at  a  Meeting  appointed 
for  y"  Congregation  to  choose  Cch  wardens  and  Ves- 
try Men  present  the  Rev''  M'  M'^Sparran  &  y''  Eldest 
Cch  warden.  The  old  Cch  wardens  and  Vestry  ex- 
cept such  [as]  are  dead  and  removed  continued,  and 
the  first  Monday  in  May  appointed  for  meeting  of  the 
Vestry  again  by  adjournment,  to  fill  y^  vacancys  and 
Contrive  some  measures  to  provide  for  a  Clerk. 

On  Monday  May  y'  i:  1732:  att  a  Meeting  of  the 

Congregation  of  the  Church  of  S'  Pauls  present  the 

Reverend  M'  MacSparran  Redlor 

The  ffollowing  persons  Chosen 

M^  Jn"  Gardner  |  ^,        u  w    j 

M^  Nath"  Norton         [  ^^"^^^  hardens 

M^  Cha'  Dickinson      ' 

M^  Geo.  Balfour 

M^  Sam"  Albro  [  Vestry  Men 

M^  Sam"  Phillips 

M'  Joseph  Mumford  ^ 


1732]  Church  Records  507 

Cap'  Jn"  Albro 

M^  Tho^  Phillips 

M'  Benoni  Sweet 

M'  William  Gardner 

M'  Hen.  Gardner 

M'  Ephraim  Gardner    }-  Vestry  Men 

M'  Chrisf  Phillips 

M'  Josiah  Arnold 

M^  Benja.  Mumford 

M^  Tho^  Hafzard 

M^  Sam"  Brown 

May  y'  i :  1732:  This  Meeting  is  Adjourned  to  the 
Last  Monday  in  this  Month 

Whereas  Several  of  the  People  belonging  to  the 
Parish  of  S'  Paul's  church  in  the  Narraganset  take- 
ing  it  into  their  Consideration  that  the  yearly  allow- 
ance of  the  Society  is  insufficient  for  the  maintainance 
of  the  Ministry,  and  y'  all  other  means  for  makeing 
a  sufficient  addition  to  the  Society's  Bounty  haveing 
hitherto  proved  ineffisdlual  and  abortive. 
Therefore  at  a  Vestry  Meeting  held  at  y"  Cch  afore- 
said the  Twenty  eighth  day  of  February  Anno  Dom: 
1728/9  it  was  Voted  nemine  Contradicente,  that  a 
Committee  consisting  of  three  persons  together  with 
the  two  present  Churchwardens  be  Chosen  in  order 
to  ered:  a  Scheme  to  make  such  additional  Allow- 
ance for  the  further  Support  of  the  Ministry  as  they 
shall  judge  requisite,  and  to  Setle  it  upon  such  a  Basis 
or  Foundation  that  there  may  be  no  obstruction  in 
the  obtaining  it  for  the  future 

A  Report  of  the  aboves"^  Committee  held  at  y''  House 
of  M'  Ephraim  Gardner  the  io"'Day  of  March  1728/9 
That  pursuant  to  y"  abovesaid  a6t  of  the  Vestry  we 
judge  it  most  convenient,  equitable  and  just,  to  rate 
or  assess  each  Pew  in  y"  Church  according  to  its  Situ- 
ation or  Convenience,  w"*"  we  have  accordingly  done; 


5o8 


Church  Records 


[1732 


likewise  judgeing  it  Neery  y'  such  assessment  be  paid 
to  y''  church  wardens  by  a  weekly  Contribution 
And  if  y'  any  Person  or  Persons  negled:  or  refuse  to 
pay  w'  is  here  laid  on  their  pew,  y'  then  it  is  our  opin- 
ion y^  his  Pew  ought  to  be  judged  Vacant,  and  sold  to 
y"  highest  bidder  (for  the  use  of  y"  church)  provided 
the  Purchaser  pay  the  Charge  on  the  Pew  aforsaid 
And  here  followeth  the  Number  of  the  Pews,  with 
their  several  assessments 
M'  Charles  Dickinson  £6  :    0:0 

M^  Sam'  Albro  £2:    0:0 

M^  Geo.  Balfour  £6:    0:0 

Cap'  Bennoni  Sweet  £2  :    0:0 

Esq' Elisha  Cole  £6:    0:0 

M'  William  Gardiner  £6  :    0:0 

M' Sam'  Browne  ^4:    0:0 

M'  William  Cole  £4.:    0:0 

M^  Jn"  Gronet  /i:io:o 

Mefs"  Updikes  £6:    0:0 

M'  Tho^  Phillips  £3:    0:0 

M'  William  Mumford  ^5  :    0:0 

M'  Stephen  Cooper  £2  :    0:0 

M'  Jn°  Gardiner  ^5  :    0:0 

The  Corner  vacant  Pew  £4. :    0:0 

M'  Henry  Gardiner  £4. :    0:0  comem 

M'  Charles  Dickinson  Jun'         £2  :    0:0 
M'  Rob'  Case  £4:    0:0 

M'  Lillybridge  £2  :    0:0 

Cap'  Daniel  Eldred's  Wid"^  £2:    0:0 

M' Nath'  Norton  ^2  :    0:0 

D'  Charles  Higginbotham  £2  :    0:0 

M'  Joseph  Powers  £2  :    0:0 

M'  Tho^  Bennet  £1  :    0:0 

M'  Yeo's  vacant  Pew  ^i  :    0:0 

Esq'  Joseph  Mumfords  £6  :    0:0 

Cap'  Jn"  Albro  £4. :    o  :  o  jn°  Aibro 


Joseph  Mumford 
Content 


1732]  church  Records  509 

M'  Ephraim  Gardiner  £^:    0:0  ^p'^^^^ 

Christopher  Phillips  £^:    0:0^''^  ?"= 

M'  Josiah  arnold  £s  '•    ^  •  ° 

no:  10:0 

r-L       L  TTtT    J         f  Christopher  Phillips 
Church  Wardens  i  t?   u    r^     j- 

\  hph.  Gardiner 

r  Jn"  Albro 

Com'^"  <  Joseph  Mumford 

(^Josiah  arnold 

The  names  who  have  either  y*"  word  (Content)  or  a 
repetition  of  the  Name  subscribed  to  y^  abovesaid 
assesment 

a  true  Copy  recorded 

Ju/y  \6'^  1732  Job  Rude  of  Newport  in  Rhode  Is- 
land was  married  to  Elizabeth  Sterling  of  Narragan- 
set  by  M^  M^Sparran  (28 

September  y'  24'''  1732,  being  Sunday  after  divine  Ser- 
vice at  Cch  M'  M^Sparran  went  to  y''  House  of  M'' 
Eliz''  Cole,  and  there  baptized  the  children  of  Jn° 
onion  a  white  man  and  deborah  onion  an  Indian  wo- 
man his  wife;  viz:  John,  Mary,  Sarah  &  Margret  on- 
ion; Suretys  M'  M'^Sparran  &  his  wife,  M'  Benj" 
Mumford  and  s"^  M'^  Cole. 

The  same  day  Mary  african  a  Negro  child  born  in  M*" 
M^Sparran's  house  of  Maroca  his  slave  and  wife  to 
Richard  african  his  slave  likewise,  was  baptized  by  s'^ 
M'  M'^Sparran,  he  &  his  wife  sureties. 

Narraganset*S'«w<3''<3jy  O^o;^'' 29'''  1732  Sam'  Bissel,  Mary 
&  Hannah  Bissel  the  children  of  Samuel  Bissel  of 
North  Kingstowne  were  baptized  by  M'  M'Sparran, 
The  sureties  were  s''  M^  &  M^'  M'Sparran,  M'  Benj" 
Mumford  &  M^^  Eliz^  Cole 

Narraganset  Thursday  the  1'^  of  Nov''  1732  was  bap- 
tized by  M'  M^Sparran  George  Mumford  the  child  of 
Joseph  Mumford  of  S°  Kingstowne  Esq'.  The  Sure- 


510  Church  Records  [1732-3 

ties  were  M'^  Benjamin  &  Tho'  Mumford  of  Groton 
Jun'  and  M^'  Ann  Mumford 

Narraganset  Monday  the  6'''  of  Nov''  1 73  2  Alexander 
Robinson  was  married  to  Sarah  Pits  by  M'  M'Spar- 
ran  (29 

'December  the  14"'  day  1732  viz:  on  Thursday  Night 
between  1 1  and  12  of  the  clock  departed  this  Life  M' 
William  Gardiner  of  Boston-Neck  in  the  61"  year  of 
his  age,  and  was  intterred  \_sic\  the  Sunday  following 
viz:  the  17""  in  the  church  yard  of  S'  Paul's  Church  in 
Narraganset 

Narraganset  'December  11"  1732  at  the  House  of  M' 
Sam'  Browne  of  South  Kingstown  Jonas  Minturnwas 
married  to  Penelope  Browne  Daughter  of  said  Sam'  (30 

Narraganset  March  1 5'''  1732  in  the  morning  died  M' 
George  Balfour  a  gentleman  much  beloved  &  heartily 
lamented  by  all  y'  knew  him,  he  was  aged  years 
and  interred  under  his  own  Pew  in  the  Cch  of  S'  Paul's 
in  narraganset  the  17'''  Day. 

Easter  monday  March  16'''  1733  at  a  Meeting  of  the 
Congregation  held  at  y''  church  of  S'  Paul  in  Narra- 
ganset; agreed  y''  old  Vestrie  so  many  as  are  alive  be 
continued  for  this  year 

The  Congregation  meeting  adjourned  to  y"  3''  Mon- 
day in  April  the  old  church  wardens  to  continue  till 
then  &  the  new  namely  M'  Christopher  Phillips  & 
M'  Sam'  Browne  w''''  are  now  nominate  then  to  take 
y'  charge 

April  i&^  1733  at  a  meeting  of  the  Congregation  by 
adjournmt  upon  M'  Sam'  Browne's  declineing  the 
office  of  church  Warden  Cap'  Jn°  albro  accepted  the 
Choice  of  the  Vestry  to  be  an  assistant  to  M'  Chris- 
topher Phillips  church  warden. 

Memorandum  that  at  y"  Said  Meeting  M'  Tho^  Phil- 
lips gave  a  note  for  ^8,  M'  Sam'  Browne  Ditto  of  ^6, 


1733]  Church  Records  511 

M'  Henry  Gardiner  one  o^  £6  M'  Ephraim  Gardi- 
ner one  of /6  Cap^  Jn"  Albro  one  £6  M'  Nathl  Nor- 
ton one  of  ^5  to  M'  Christopher  PhilHps  w'*"  money 
as  Cchwarden  he  is  to  lay  out  in  repairing  the  church 
and  fenceing  the  church  yard  besides  ^8  w''*'  said  Phil- 
Hps gave  for  said  use  to  Cap'  Jn"  albro 

Christo'  Phillips 
John  Albro 

May  the  9"'  1733  M'  M'Sparran  preached  at  Benja- 
min Mumford's  and  baptized  his  Daughter  Ann 
Mumford  an  Infant 

May  the  27'^"  1733  were  intermarried  inNarraganset  by 
M^  M'Sparran,  the  Rev'  M^  Sam'  Seabury  Minister 
of  New-London  in  Connedlicut  and  M'"  Elizabeth 
Powel  of  Narraganset  (3  i 

June  y'  3''  1733  being  Sunday,  was  baptized  by  y*" 
Rev'*  M'  M'Sparran  at  y''  Cch  of  S'  paul  in  narra- 
ganset John  Champlin  a  child,  the  Son  of  Christo- 
pher champlin  Jun'  of  westerly  and  Hannah  his  wife; 
the  Suretys  were  M'  M'Sparran  and  M"  Mary  Gar- 
diner wife  of  Jn°  Gardiner  of  Boston  Neck 

September  25'^  1733  The  Rev"*  M'  M'Sparran  preached 
a  Ledure  at  the  House  of  M'  Henry  Gardiner  Jun'  of 
S°  Kingstowne  and  there  baptized  Six  Children  viz: 
Hugh,  Sufsannah  and  Ann  Essex  the  children  of 
M' — Essex  Cloathier,  Mary  and  Abigail  Gardiner 
the  children  of  said  Henry  Gardiner  and  Jane,  the 
Daughter  of  Jn°  Gardiner  The  Sureties  were  M'  M*"- 
Sparran,  Henry  Gardiner,  M'  Cole  &  M''  Mary  Gar- 
diner 

Sunday  .F^i^  17'''  1733  preached  at  Thomas  Phillips's  in 
North  Kingstown  M'  M'^Sparran  and  baptized  Mary 
Phillips  a  child  of  Sam'  Phillips  Jun'  the  Sureties  were 
Nath'  Norton,  Elizabeth  Phillips  the  child's  grand- 
mo'  and  Mary  Phillips  the  wife  of  said  Thomas 


Church  Records 


[1734 


512 

Att  a  Meeting  of  y"  Congregation  att  y^  Church  of 
S^  Pauls  in  Narragansett  on  Easter  Monday  April y' 
15''  1734  Present  y*^  Rev"  M^  M"Sparran  Red^ 
The  ffollowing  Persons  Chosen 


Church  Warden 


Vestry  Men 


Cap'  Jn°  Albro  \ 

M^  Chrisf  Phillips        \ 
M'  Jn°  Gardner 
M'  Chads  Dickinson 
M'  Nath"  Norton 
M'  Sam"  Albro 
M^  Sam"  Phillips 
M'  Joseph  Mumford 
M^  Tho^  Phillips 
Cap'  Benoni  Sweet 
M'  Henry  Gardner 
M'  Ephraim  Gardner 
M'  Josiah  Arnold 
M'  Benja.  Mumford 
M'  Tho^  Hafsard 
M'  Sam"  Brown 
M'  Stephen  Cowper 
M^  Sam"  Bissell 

May  the  y'''  1734  M'  Richard  Updike  being  sick  and 
visited  by  M'  M'Sparran  he  the  said  Richard  updike 
desired  his  children  might  be  baptized  in  his  Presense, 
and  M'  M^Sp:  baptized  them  accordingly  viz':  Jn° 
Richard  Smith,  Daniel,  James  Mary  and  Eliza""  up- 
dike; the  Sureties  were  Capt  Updike  the  Grand  Fa' 
Christopher  Phillips  and  M"  updike  the  Grandmo' 
of  said  children 

May  11'^  1734  baptized  by  M'  M'Sparran  at  Coesit 
Mary  Dickinson  the  child  of  Capt  Jn°  Dickinson  : 
Suretys  its  Grandmo'  Phillips,  M"  Collins  of  war- 
wick  and  its  uncle  Thomas  Phillips  of  North  Kings- 
town 

May  27"'  1734  M'  M'Sparran  administred  Clinick 


1734]  Church  Records  513 

Baptism  to  Mary  Sweet  the  reputed  child  of  Bennoni 
Sweet,  a  young  woman  aged  23  at  the  house  of  phillip 
Brigs  in  North  Kingstowne  her  witnesses  Tho'  Phillips 
and  Nath'  Norton 

June  9"'  1734  Frederick  Phillips  a  child  Son  of  Chris- 
topher Phillips  was  baptized  by  M'  M^Sparran:  Sure- 
ties his  Grand  Fa'  Saml  Phillips,  Nathl  Norton  and 
Mary  Phillips 

aug''  15"'  1734  Cecilia  Mumford  Grand  Daughter  of 
the  Rev''  M'  James  Honyman  of  Rhode  Island  an  In- 
fant and  Daughter  of  m'  William  Mumford  of  S° 
Kingstowne  was  baptized  by  M'  M^Sparran  of  Nar- 
raganset;  Surety s  said  M'  M'Sparran,  M''  Honyman 
and  M'^  Wickham 

September  3'^  1734  at  westerly  Cch  was  baptized  by  m' 
M'Sparran  upon  his  own  faith  a  youth  named  Wil- 
liam Willis:  and  the  same  day  at  the  House  of  m' 
Benj"  Mumford  in  South  Kingstown  were  intermar- 
ried by  M'  M'Sparran  Arthur  Gates  Auchmuty  & 
Ann  Dickinson  (32 

September  ig'^'  1734  at  the  Cch  of  S'  Paul  in  Narragan- 
set  was  baptized  James  Dickson  a  child  the  Son  of 
Anthony  and  Hannah  Dickson  the  Suretys  were  M' 
M'Sparran(bywhom  he  was  baptized,)  M'Nath'  Nor- 
ton and  M'=  M^Sparran. 

Att  a  Vestrey  Meeting  held  att  the  Church  of  S' Pauls 
in  Narragansett  Nov"  /  4.'''  1734  it  was  Voated  and 
Unanimously  agreed  that  a  State  of  the  Case  Should 
be  Drawn  Up  Concerning  the  Ministerial  farm  in 
Narragansett  and  Transmitted  home  to  the  Society 
for  propagation  of  the  Gospel,  for  their  Perusial 

Nov"  the  13"'  1734  M'  M'Sparran  preached  at  wes- 
terly Church  and  there  Baptized  Christopher,  Joseph, 
George,  Ann  and  Elizabeth  Champlin  adults,  Jabes, 
Oliver  and  Mary  Champlin  younger  children;  being 


514  Church  Records  [1734-5 

all  the  children  of  Capt  Christopher  Champlin  lately 
deceased;  and  at  the  Same  time  was  baptized  Sarah 
Willis  wife  of  m'  Henry  Willis  Shoemaker 

January  the  5'''  1734  Then  Baptized  at  the  house  of 
Cap^  Thomas  Potter  of  South  Kingstown  James  Pot- 
ter a  child  of  3  year  old  &  son  of  said  Tho^  Potter 
by  M'  M^Sparran,  who  together  with  his  wife  stood 
Suretys  for  him 

Att  a  Meeting  of  the  Congregation  att  the  Church  of 
S'  Pauls  in  Narragansett  on  Easter  Monday  April  y" 
1'^  1735  present  y'^  Rev"*  M'  M"Sparran  Red:' 
The  ifollowing  Persons  Chosen 

A/ir  u     r  r>    J        \  Church  Wardens 
M'  Hen  Gardner  j 

it  is  Voated  that  y*"  Old  Vestrey  is  Continued  with  y^ 

Addition  of  Major  Ebenezer  Brenton  &  M'  William 

Montford  Merch' 

it  is  Voated  that  the  Representation  of  the  State  of 

the  Case  y*  Concerns  y"  Ministerial  Land  Shall  be 

Transmitted  Home  to  y"  Society  for  Propagateing  y" 

Gospell,  for  their  Peruseal,  which  was  this  Day  Read 

Before  y''  Congregation 

an  Acco'  of  what  Money  hath  Been  paid  towards  the 

Defending  y*"  Ministeriall  Land 

Viz':  Tho'  Phillips   2  :  00  :  o  to  Ephraim  Gardiner 

Jn°  Gardner  3  :  00  :  o  to  M'  M'Sparran 

Major  Brenton      J[^i  :  10       to  Ephraim  Gardiner 

Saml  Browne         ^1:10       to  ditto 

Henry  Gardiner    ^^i  :    o  :  o  to  Ephraim 

Curtis  to  Ditto      ^^o  :  10  :  o 

Sam"  Brown  o:  10:0  to  M'  M"Sparran 

Josiah  arnold         J^^t,  :  00  :  o  to  ditto 

It  is  Likewise  Voated  that  y'^  Rev"*  M^  M"Sparran  Be 
Desired  to  Gett  y"  Afsifstance  of  our  Bretheren  of  y" 
Church  in  other  parts  for  the  Carrying  on  the  Adlion 
Concerning  y"  Ministerial  Land 


1735]  Church  Records  515 

Att  a  Vestry  Meeting  held  att  y*"  Church  of  S'  Paul 
in  Narragafett  [i/V]  on  Monday  June  2'"'  1 73  5  The  Rev'* 
M'  M"Sparran  haveing  Communicated  to  y"'  Vestry 
the  Votes  of  the  United  Vestries  of  Kings  Chappel 
&  Christs  Church  in  Boston  Bearing  Date  May  y""  25 : 

1735 

Voated  :  That  the  thanks  of  this  Vestry  be  Returned 

to  Our  Brethren  att  Boston  for  the  Kind  Part  they 
have  Taken  in  y"  Affair  Relateing  [to]  the  Ministerial 
Land  in  Which  S'*  Vestry  is  Now  Engaged 
Voated  that  the  Voats  of  the  United  Vestries  afore  s"* 
Dated  May  21  :  1735,  be  E^^tered  in  this  Book  as 
follows 

at  a  meeting  of  the  United  Vestrys  of  Christ's  Church 
and  Kings  Chappel  at  m'  Weatherhead's  May  21'^ 
1735  Voted 

That  M'  Charles  Apthorp,  Treasurer,  pay  to  the  Rev'* 
M' James  M'Sparran  Such  Sums  of  money  as  shall  be 
found  necesary  to  defend  and  Recover  the  ministe- 
rial Land  in  the  Pettaquamscut  Purchase  in  the  Nar- 
raganset  Countrey. 

That  Mess''  Will'"  Price,  George  Monk,  Sylvester 
Gardiner,  and  Eliakim  Hutchinson,  be  desired  to  make 
a  farther  Colledlion,  to  be  deposited  in  the  Hands  of 
m'  Charles  Apthorp,  to  defend  and  promote  the  In- 
terest of  the  Episcopal  churches  in  New  England 
Whereas  the  United  Vestrys  have  taken  into  Con- 
sideration the  Case  of  the  Ministerial  Land  in  the 
Pettaquamscut  Purchase  in  the  Narraganset  Country, 
and  have  received  the  opinion  of  the  Honourable 
Rob'  Auchmuty  Esq'  thereon,  and  being  well  pleased 
with  it,  desire  the  Rev''  m'  Commissary  Price  to  sign 
this  Vote  in  testimony  of  their  willingness  to  unite 
with  their  Brethren  in  the  other  Governments  in  de- 
fending and  recovering  said  Land 

Roger  Price  Commissary 


5i6  Church  Records  [1735 

At  a  meeting  of  the  united  Vestries  of  Kings  Chappel 
&  Christs  Church  at  m'  wetherhed's  may  the  21" 
1 73  5  U  pon  the  Rev*^  m'  James  m'Sparran's  laying  the 
Case  of  the  ministerial  Land  in  the  Pettaquamscut 
Purchase  in  the  Narraganset  Country  before  said 
Vestries,  and  the  Honble  Rob'  Auchmuty  Esq'  his 
opinion  on  said  Case  read  to,  and  received  by  the 
vestrys;  the  Following  Preface,  for  a  Colledlion  of 
Money,  was  read  and  accepted  by  said  vestries,  and 
subscribed  by  every  one  there  Present  viz 
Whereas  it  was  thought  necesary  by  the  min'"  Church 
wardens  and  Vestries  of  King's  Chappel  and  Christ's 
church,  at  Boston  in  New  England,  to  raise  a  Sum 
of  Money  in  order  to  lay  y*"  sufferings  of  the  Cchmen 
in  this  Province,  before  the  King  in  Council,  and  to 
prosecute  the  matter  to  effe6l:  and  in  as  Much  as 
many  of  our  Brethren,  in  the  neighbouring  Provinces 
have  contributed  toward  the  Same;  and  are  Still  will- 
ing and  desireous  y'  a  farther  Collection  be  made  to 
defend  and  promote  the  Interest  of  the  Episcopal 
Cches  in  New  England,  more  especially  with  regard 
to  Ellis's  Case  versus  Sprague,  and  the  Ministerial 
Land  in  the  Pettaquamscut  Purchase  in  the  Narra- 
ganset Country 

We,  therefore,  the  Subscribers,  do  chearfully  join  with 
them  in  raiseing  a  farther  Sum  for  y'  End,  and  will  pay 
the  Several  Sums  opposite  to  our  Names,  to  the  Rev"* 
M' James  M'^Sparran  Clerk,  or  to  M' Charles  Apthorp 
as  Treasurer  to  y^  United  Vestries  of  Kings  chappel 
and  Christ's  church  in  Boston  aforesaid,  [here  fol- 
loweth  in  the  original  the  Subscribers  with  the  Sums 
opposite  to  their  names]  viz'  Rob'  Auchmuty,  Fran- 
cis Brinley  &c. 

Voted  that  a  Preamble  for  a  Suscription  be  Drawn  Up 
in  Order  to  Raise  a  Summ  of  Money  Towards  the 
Defence  and  Promotion  of  the  Interest  of  the  Epis- 
copall  Churches  in  New  England,  Espetially  for  y"  Re- 


'735-6]  Church  Records  517 

covery  and  Defence  of  the  Ministerial  Land  in  the 
Petequamscutt  Purchase  in  y'^  Narragansett  Countrey 
and  that  the  Summs  Allready  Advanced  towards  s'* 
Affair  be  Included  in  s''  Subscription 

July  10"'  1735  ^'  M'Sparran  baptized  William  Mum- 
ford  a  Child,  Son  of  M^  William  Mumford  Shop- 
keeper in  South  Kingstowne,  the  Sureties  were  the 
Grandfa'  viz:  the  Rev''  M'  James  Honyman  and  the 
Grandmo'  M''  Elizabeth  Honyman  and  the  uncle  of 
y"  child  viz'  Francis  Honyman 

The  Same  Day  at  y^  House  of  Capt  George  Mum- 
ford,  Samuel  Hazard  and  Abigail  Mumford  Daugh- 
ter of  Said  George  were  joined  together  in  holy  Ma- 
trimony ^  M'  M'Sparran  (33 

December  \\'^  1735  Doctor  Giles  Goddard  of  Groton 
in  Connecut  \sic\  v'yl  the  Town  of  Groton  was  mar- 
ried to  M''  Sarah  updike  at  the  House  of  her  Father 
Capt  Lowdowick  Updike  by  M'  M'^Sparran         (34 

February  ^"'  1735  baptized  by  M'  M'Sparran  on  a  lec- 
ture day  at  the  House  of  M'  Tho'  phillips  in  North 
Kingstowne — Thomas  Phillips  a  Child  of  about  6 
months  old  Son  of  Samuel  Phillips  Jun'  Suretys  said 
Thomas  Phillips  &  M'Xtopher  Phillips  uncles  to  said 
child  and  M^^  Eliz'  Cole 

March  3*^  1735  a  child  son  of  Benjamin  Mumford  of 
South  Kingstowne  was  baptized  by  the  Name  of  Ben- 
jamin by  M'  M'Sparran  Suretys  were  M'  M'Sparran, 
Joseph  Mumford,  Ann  Pierce 

A-pril  1 1 "'  1736  Baptized  at  Coeset  by  M'  M'Sparran 
two  children  viz'  Rebecca  Pigot  Daughter  of  Edward 
Pigot  &  Charles  Dickinson  Son  of  Capt  Jn°  Dick- 
inson 

Monday  in  Easter  week  viz'  April  26:  1736  at  y"  Cch 
of  S'  Paul's  Present  the  Rev"*  M'  M'  Sparran  Reder 
Voted  that  M^  Thomas  Phillips  and  M^  John  Cole 


5i8  Church  Records  [1736-7 

be  Church  Wardens  the  ensuing  Year  and  until  there 

be  a  New  Choice 

Voted  that  the  old  Vestry  be  continued 

Voted  that  M'  John  Cole  be  Clerk  of  y"  Vestry 

May  16"'  1736  Thomas  Phillips  a  Child  son  of  Tho' 
Phillips  of  N°  Kingstowne  was  baptized  at  S'  Paul's 
Cch  in  Narraganset  f  M^  M'Sparran 

June  the  T^"^  1736  at  y''  House  of  M'  Sam'  Browning  in 
North  Kingstowne  were  intermarried  by  M'  M'Spar- 
ran  Sam'  Albro  Jun'  to  Lois  Browning  (35 

June  y'  6'''  1736  Stepney  a  negro  Boy  was  baptized  by 
his  Master  M'  M'Sparran 

June  13'''  1736  baptized  by  M'  M^Sparran  at  y*"  Cch 
of  St  Paul  4  children,  Lawton  albro  and  Isabella  albro 
the  Son  and  Daughter  of  Capt  Jn°  Albro,  Elizabeth 
Gardiner  y*"  Daughter  of  Jn°  Gardiner  Schoolmaster 
&  Sarah  Dickson  y*"  Daughter  of  Anthony  Dickson 

June  16'^  1736  baptized  by  M'  M'^Sparran  Thomas 
W^almsly  a  Molatto  and  adult  and  the  4  Children  of 
Jn°  letson  viz^  Robt,  Jeremiah,  Mary  and  Elizabeth 

The  Dodorwent  to  England  &  returned  in  j^ug"  1737 

Warwick  Cch  j^ug"  the  14'^'  1737  Do6tor  Macsparran 
Then  and  there  baptized  two  children  viz'  Tho'  Ellis 
and  Alexander  Hamilton 

The  Rev''  Do6lor  MacSparran  baptized  Joannah 
Mayberry  a  child  at  M'  Sanderson's  Refinery  in  At- 
lebury  the  i"  Day  of  October  1737  as  he  travelled 
from  Boston  to  Narraganset  Sponsor  the  Grandfa' 
by  the  Fa"  Side. 

Narraganset  September  1737  Dodlor  MacSparran  bap- 
tized a  Child  the  Daughter  of  Anthony  Dickson 
named  Mary  Dickson 

October  18"''  1737  The  Rev*^  Dodlor  MacSparran  bap- 
tized Abigail  Cooper  by  Immersion  in  Pettaquam- 


1737-8]         Church  Records  519 

scut  Lake.  She  is  Daughter  of  Capt  Lodowick  Updike 
of  North  Kingstown  deceased  And  wife  of  Mathew 
Cooper 

o5loher  23''  1737  The  Rev''  D'  MacSparran  baptized 
the  abovesaid  Mathew  Cooper  an  Adult  at  y'^  Church 
of  St  Paul 

October  30""  1737  The  Rev''  Doftor  MacSparran  bap- 
tized a  negro  woman  belonging  to  the  widow  Phillips 
named  Rose  upon  her  own  Faith  at  the  Church  of 
St  Paul  her  witness  was  M'  Thomas  Phillips  her  Mis- 
tress's Eldest  Son 

Nov''  G^  ^IZl  T^^  Rev''  Dodor  MacSparran  baptized 
at  y'^  Church  of  St  Paul  an  Indian  woman  Named  Jane 
Servant  to  Mistress  Caird  —  Witnesses  her  Mistress 
&  Mrs  MacSparran 

Nov"  27"'!  737 The  Rev''Do6lor  MacSparran  baptized 
at  y'  Church  of  St  Paul  a  Child  named  Mary  Dick- 
inson Daughter  of  Charles  Dickinson  tertius,  The 
Son  Charles  Jun'  who  also  is  the  Son  of  Charles 
Dickinson  of  Narragansett  now  liveing 
March  26""  1738  The  Rev''  Dodor  MacSparran  bap- 
tized at  the  Cch  of  S'  Paul  a  Child  named  Ann  Gardi- 
ner Daughter  to  Jn°  Gardiner  Schoolmaster,  Sponsors 
Benj"  Mountford  M^'  Mumford  and  M'=  Eliz^'  Cole 
Monday  y  1^  of  April  1 738  at  the  Cch  of  S'  Paul  pre- 
sent the  Reverend  Do6lor  MacSparran 

M^  Thomas  Phillips    1  ,  n  x.       a 

o  V  ^^^^  chosen  Cchwardens 

M'  Joseph  Mumford  j  ^^^  ^^^^ 

The  Vestry  Continued  &  M^  Jn*^  Cole  added 

April  16"'  1738  The  Rev''  Dodlor  MacSparran  bap- 
tized at  New  London  a  child  named  [Ann-Hampton 
More]  belonging  to  Capt  More  of  South  Hold  on 
Long  Island.  &  the  next  Day  at  Groton  4  Adults  and 
3   children  viz'  the  wife  of  Jn"   Haly  called  Mary 


520  church  Records  [1738 

Haly  and  6  of  her  children  namely  John,  Joshua,  & 
Marth  Hayly  adults  and  Elizabeth,  Caleb  &  Jere- 
miah Haly  children 

June  20'''  1738  this  Day  was  buried  in  the  Cch  yard  be- 
longing [to]  the  Cch  of  St  Paul's  in  Narraganset  a  child 
of  M'  Tho'  Phillips's  called  Thomas  Phillips  &  a 
funeral  Sermon  preach  [ed]  by  Dodtor  Macsparran  the 
Incumbent 

July  %'^  1738  baptized  by  y'  Rev''  D'  Macsparran  at 
M''  Updike's  widow  &  Relick  of  Capt  Lodowick  Up- 
dike 6  Children  belonging  to  Mathew  Cooper  &  Abi- 
gail his  wife  viz*  Thomas,  Gilbert,  James,  Abigail, 
Christiana  Catharine,  &  Elizabeth  Cooper 

July  10'''  D'  Macsparran  baptized  an  Adult  viz'  Ann 
Francis  wife  of  Abraham  Francis  at  the  House  of  her 
Fa'  viz'  Moses  Lippet  in  Warwick 

September  gl^  1738  Dodor  Macsparran  baptized  Eliza- 
beth Phillips  a  Child  Daughter  of  Xtopher  and  Sarah 
Phillips  of  North  Kingstown 

Sepf  10'^  1738  Dr  MacSparran  baptized  William  and 
Ann  Love  [Lowe?]  at  Warwick  Cch,  the  Son  & 
Daughter  of  Gabriel  Love  [Lowe?]  of  Warwick 

Sepf  1 1'^'  Dodlor  MacSparran  preached  at  M'^  Cairda's 
[Caird's]  in  Warwick  being  Monday^  and  y'  Morning 
before  administred  the  Eucharist  to  Mrs  Ann  Francis 
a  Clinick  with  whom  coTcated  Mrs  Susannah  Cole  and 
Mrs  Mary  Taylor 

September  15'*  1738  D'  MacSparran  baptized  Susan- 
nah Mumford  the  Daughter  of  M'  Joseph  Mumford 
of  South  Kingstown 

September  17'^  1738  The  Rev''  M'  Jonathan  Arnold 
Presbyter  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  Incumbent 
of  New  Haven  in  Connecticut  did  at  y^  House  of 
Do6lor  Macsparran  baptize  a  negro  child  belongg  to 
said  Dodior  Macsparran   being  a  slave  born  in  his 


1738-9]  church  Records  521 

House  by  y^  Name  of  Margret  Sirname  African  Sure- 
tys  the  Dodor  and  his  wife 

April  16'''  1739  Do6lor  MacSparran  Baptized  by  Im- 
mersion At  Warwick  Freelove  Lippet  &  Mary  Lip- 
pet  Daughters  of  M' Moses  Lippet  of  said  Town;  the 
witness  [j/V]  were  M'  Abraham  Francis  &  his  wife 
Ann  Francis 

The  Day  before  the  Doctor  preached  at  Coeset  Cch, 
y'  Day  viz'  16'''  of  April  he  preached  at  y"  House  of 
said  Francis  in  Warwick  &  on  the  17'''  at  the  House 
of  Major  John  Albro  at  the  Funeral  of  his  Fa'  M' 
Samuel  Albro  who  was  interred  in  his  own  Ground 
and  died  in  95'''  year  of  his  Age 
The  Said  16'''  of  April  xh^  Dr  administred  the  Eucha- 
rist to  Said  Mrs  Ann  Francis  and  her  Said  two  sisters 
Freelove  &  Mary  Lippet 

April  11^  1739  faster  Sunday  after  Sacrat  the  Vestry 
being  Met  unanimously  Voated  the  Church  Warden's 
and  Vestry  of  the  last  Year  to  be  continued  another 
year  or  till  a  new  Choice 

Voated  likewise  y'  whereas  a  generous  Colledion  is 
making  to  assist  this  Parish  in  prosecuting  an  Appeal 
from  y*"  Judgment  of  last  Su^ior  Court  relating  [to] 
the  ministerial  Land  That  said  appeal  be  prosecuted 
to  Effed 

May  the  G^  1739  After  Service  at  church  was  finished 
D' MacSparran  baptized  by  Immersion  in  Pettaquam- 
scut  Lake  An  Adult  named  James  Durham,  witnesses 
Mathew  Cooper  &  Katharine  Updike.  Durham  was 
26  year  old  1^  Decem'  1738 

May  the  16'^  1739  Dodor  Macsparran  Married  Abra- 
ham Dennis  to  Rebecca  Saywel  their  Banns  of  Matri- 
mony being  lawfully  published  in  Trinity  Church  on 
Rhode  Island  as  certified  by  the  Rev''  M'  James 
Honyman  Pastor  of  said  church  {i^d 


522  Church  Records  [1739 

May  the  17'^  1739  The  Rev"*  Doder  Macsparran  Mar- 
ried M'  William  Mumford  of  Rhode  Island  to  Miss 
Sussannah  Cole  of  North  Kingstown  (37 

Died  in  South  Kingstowne  the  much  beloved  &  la- 
mented Mary  Gardiner,  wife  of  M'  John  Gardiner 
of  Boston  Neck  on  Monday  the  ii""  of  June  1739 
and  was  decently  interred  (after  her  funeral  Sermon 
preached  by  her  Bro'  in  Law  the  Rev"^  Dod;er  Mac- 
sparran) in  the  Cch  yard  of  the  Church  of  S'  Paul  in 
Narraganset  on  Wednesday  the  13""  of  said  Month 
aged 

Newport  on  Rhode  Island  May  14'''  1739 
That  the  Banns  of  Marriage  between  Abraham  Dennis 
and  Rebeccah  Saywel  have  been  duly  published  in 
Trinity  Church  in  Newport  abovesaid  is  certified  by 
me  James  Honyman 

a  true  Copy  of  the  Certificate  whereupon  1  intermar- 
ried S'*  Dennis  and  Saywel 
Sic  Le6lor  James  MacSparran  Cler. 

September f  1^  1^1^^  M'John  Gardinerof  Boston-Neck 
was  admitted  (for  the  first  time)  to  y"  Sacrament  of 
the  Lords  Supper,  &  so  was  M"  Anstis  Updike  the 
wife  of  Col  Daniel  Updike,  having  been  heretofore 
before  her  removal  to  the  main  Land  a  Comunicant 
at  y''  church  of  Newport;  &  a  Month  before  were  Ad- 
mitted upon  their  like  Removal  from  Newport  to 
Narraganset  Col  Will""  Coddington  and  Jane  his  wife 

Sepf  9'''  Dodor  MacSparran  preached  at  y*"  Church 
of  Warwick  and  admitted  to  y"  Sacrament  of  y*"  Lord's 
Supper  M'  Cavalli  [Lavally] 

Sepf  10"'  Dodor  MacSparran  Baptized  at  the  House 
of  M'  Abraham  Francis  in  the  old  Town  of  War- 
wick an  Adult  named  Lydia  Collins  and  her  child 
named  also  Lydia  Collins,  read  Prayers  and  preached 
&  administred  the  Eucharist  at  said  House  to  M'" 


1739-40]        Church  Records  523 

Francis  who  is  bedrid,  to  her  two  sisters  Freelove  and 
Mary  Lippet  to  old  M"  Collins  &  Said  Lydia  for  the 
first  time 

October  28  1739  The  Rev''  Doctor  MacSparran  bap- 
tized Hannah  Dickson  a  child  and  Daughter  to  An- 
thony Dickson  &  Hannah  his  wife,  suretys  M"  Mac- 
Sparran M'"  Ann  Mumford  and  her  Husband  Ben- 
jamin Mumford 

Decern''  9""  1739  D'  MacSparran  preached  in  the 
County  House  on  Tower  Hill  in  South  Kingstowne 
and  baptized  Two  of  M'  Joseph  Mumford's  children 
viz'  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Mumford  Suretys  Coll 
Will™  Coddington;  his  Lady  M''  MacSparran  and  the 
Doder  himself. 

Decern''  13"'  1739  John  Gardiner  of  Boston  Neck  So: 
Kingstowne  was  married  to  Mary  Taylor  niece  to 
Francis  Willet  Esq'  of  North  Kingstowne  by  the  Rev'' 
Dodor  MacSparran.  (38 

May  11'^  1740  At  the  old  Town  of  Warwick  were 
baptized  by  the  Rev''  Do6lor  MacSparran  Ann-Phillis 
Lippet  an  Adult,  wife  to  M'  Moses  Lippet  and  her 
Son  John  Lippet,  the  Mo'  aged  about  50  the  Son 
about  10  years;  as  also  three  children  of  Thankful 
Collins  viz'  Thomas,  Elizabeth  &  Sarah  Colhns  and 
the  said  Ann  Phillis  Lippet  mo'  of  M"  Francis  re- 
ceived the  same  Day,  y*"  Eucharist  at  y"  Hands  of  D' 
MacSparran 

A  Meeting  of  the  Vestry  being  duely  notified  said  Ves- 
try accordingly  met  this  19'''  Day  of  May  1740  when 
and  where  the  Rev''  Do6lor  Macsparran  exhibited  to 
Joseph  Mumford  the  only  present  Church  Warden 
an  account  w''  his  Parishioners  contributed  towards  his 
Support  for  the  year  1739  ending  at  Easter  last  ac- 
cording to  Society's  order. 

May  25"'  1740  being  JVhii  Sunday   Nathan  Walker 


52^4  Church  Records  [1740 

an  Adult  was  baptized  by  Do5ier  MacSparran^  who^ 
with  his  wife,  &  her  Bro'  Jn"  Gardiner  were  his  chosen 
witnesses. 

June  V  D'  MacSparran  preached  at  Brimfield  90 
miles  Distant  from  Nar: 

—  QJ^  D'  MacSparran  preached  at  said  Brimfield  and 
Baptized  two  children  viz'  Oliver  Nelson  Son  of 
Moses  Nelson  about  1  Mo^  old  and  Benjamin  Nelson 
the  Son  of  Andrew  Nelson  about  11  Mo'  old 

September  ■f  1740  Job  Ailmy  of  Newport  Merchant 
was  Married  to  Abigail  Gardiner  widow  of  William 
Gardiner  at  the  House  of  her  Son  John  Gardiner  in 
Boston  Neck  by  the  Reverend  Do6ler  James  Mac- 
Sparran Incumbent  of  S'  Paul's  in  Narraganset    (39 

Dofter  MackSparran  administred  y^  Eucharist  to  M' 
Charles  Dickinson  on  his  Death  Bed  September  ii*'' 
1 740.  he  died  at  1  of  the  Clock  in  the  morning  of  Sun- 
day the  14"'  and  ony"  15'''  was  buried  in  y^  Cch-yard  of 
S'  Pauls  Cch  in  Narraganset,  a  Sermon  on  y"  occasion 
being  then  preached  by  y"  said  Do6ler  MacSparran 

September  21"  1740  Do6t'  MacSparran  baptized  at  the 
Cch  of  St  paul  the  child  of  James  and  Esther  Helme 
by  the  name  of  Esther  her  Suretys  were  Coll  Cod- 
dington  his  wife  &  Daughter  Content 

Nov"  id''  1740  Doder  MacSparran  baptized  at  the 
House  of  M'  Abraham  Francis  of  Warwick  a  child 
named  William  Hunt  Son  of  a  Taylor  y'  lives  there. 
Sponsors  were  Dr  Macsparran  the  Said  Abraham 
Francis  and  Ann  his  wife 

At  a  Vestry  held  at  St  Pauls  in  Narraganset  after  di- 
vine Service  on  Christmass  Day  1 740.  present  the  Rev** 
D' MacSparran,  Joseph  Mumford  Church  warden.  Col 
Daniel  updike  Mess''  Saml  Browne,  Henry  Gardner 
Esq';  Jn°  Gardiner  Jn°  Case:  Tho'  Browne,  Jn°  Cole, 
Benj"  Mumford;  it  was  voated  as  follows  viz'  Whereas 


ij4o-i]  Church  Records  525 

it  appears  by  Letters  from  England  this  Day  exhibited 
and  read  in  Vestry,  that  Still  a  larger  Remittance  must 
be  made  to  answer  the  Expense  of  y"  Law  Suit  about 
the  Ministerial  Land,  and  it  being  unreasonable  the 
Dodor,  who  sues  for  said  Land,  not  in  his  own,  but 
in  the  Right  of  his  Church,  should  bear  y''  Burden  of 
y^  whole;  and  it  being  also  unlikely  to  raise  a  Sum 
in  this  Parish,  answerable  to  y'  Large  Demand,  It  is 
therefore  agreed  y'  Suitable  Persons  be  chosen  to  draw 
up  petitionary  Letters  to  y"  Ministers  and  Vestrys  of 
Boston  Marblehead  Piscataqua  and  Providence  & 
begging  their  Assistance;  And  y'  Col.  William  Cod- 
dington,  Col  Daniel  updike  and  M'  Joseph  Mum- 
ford  do  draw  up  and  sign  said  Letters  in  Behalf  of 
the  Vestry 

Also  Voted  y'  a  Colledion  be  Set  on  Foot  among 
our  Selves,  and  y'  M'  John  Gardiner,  Jn°  Case,  Tho"* 
Browne  and  Jn°  Cole,  do  manage  y'  Affair  and  colled: 
w'  well  disposed  Persons  in  this  Parish  are  able  and 
will  to  give  towards  said  Case,  y'  as  Speedy  a  Remit- 
tance may  be  made  to  England  as  possible 

D'  MacSparran  baptized  at  the  House  of  M''  Eliz" 
Cole  in  North  Kingstown  3  children  of  Ambrose  Mil- 
liard's viz'  Tho^  Katharine  and  Mary  Suretys  the  D', 
M^  Jn°  Cole,  M'=  Cole  and  her  Daughter  Ann 

Fel?  lof  1 740  Do6lor  MacSparran  preached  at  his  own 
House  and  Baptized  Abigail  Gardiner  the  Daughter 
of  Jn°  and  Mary  Gardiner  his  second  wife  the  said 
Abigail  was  born  the  26"'  Day  of  September  1740. 
The  Sponsors  were,  the  Doftor,  M''  Jane  Codding- 
ton  and  Miss  Eliz^  Cole  Jun'. 

March  27"'  1741  The  child  of  Maroca  a  negro  wo- 
man belonging  to  Dofter  MacSparran  was  baptized 
by  the  Do6ler  by  the  name  of  Beleco  Sponsors  the 
Doder  his  wife  and  Miss  Content  Coddington 


526  Church  Records  [1741 

March  30""  1741  being  Easter  MoW^jy,  The  vestry  of 
St  Pauls  being  met,  &  present  the  Reverend  Do6lor 
James  MacSparran,  They  continued  the  vestry  and 
Chose  Coll  William  Coddington  and  M'  Tho'  Browne 
Church  Wardens  for  this  year  1741.  And  then  ad- 
journed to  the  20"'  of  April  by  the  said  Dodor  that 
the  old  Church  Wardens  might  make  out  a  Certifi- 
cate of  the  last  years  Contributions  towards  the  Sup- 
port of  y"  Do6tor  according  to  the  Societys  order  in 
that  Respe6l 

April  the  5""  1741  Do(5ler  MacSparran  went  to  New- 
port on  Some  Affairs  of  his  Church  and  preached  for 
the  Rev''  M'  Honeyman 

April  9"'  D'  MackSparran  preached  at  Col  updike's  in 
his  way  to  Warwick 

11"'  Ditto  he  preached  at  M'  Abraham  Francis's  and 
administred  the  Eucharist  to  7  Persons 

Sunday  \i"'  April  1741  The  Dr  preached  at  Coeset 
church  &  on  Monday  in  his  way  Home  baptized 
Zacharias  Mattison  grandchild  (by  his  Daughter)  to 
Capt  John  Dickinson  Sureties  the  Grandmo'  Mary 
Dickinson  The  Do6ler  and  M'  Tho'  Phillips  the 
child's  Grand  uncle 

April  10"'  1 74 1  At  a  Vestry  at  S'  Paul's  Narraganset 
by  Adjournment:  After  Certificate  for  the  Doctor's 
last  years  Contribution  was  signed,  The  Vestry  (for 
Good  Reasons  them  thereunto  moving)  unanimously 
voated,  that  the  Min'"  Salary  be  henceforth  paid  by 
Contribution;  and  that  the  Contribution  be  colledied 
by  the  Church  Wardens,  or  their  Assistants,  in  the 
Same  Manner  it  is  done  at  Newport  church:  that  is 
to  Say,  by  earring  the  Box  from  Pew  to  Pew 
Voated  also,  that  M'  Benjamin  Mumford  and  M' 
Jn°  Cole  do  assist  the  Church  Wardens  in  that  work, 
for  this  ensuing  year;  and  that  the  Contributions  be 


i74i]  Church  Records  527 

paid  to  y"  Dofter  once  in  a  month  by  the  Cch-war- 
dens  who  are  to  take  his  Receipts  for  the  Several  Sums 
paid,  y'  the  whole  may  be  certified  to  y"  Society  once 
every  Year  viz'  at  Easter. 

Sunday  July  12.'^  1741  D'  MacSparran  preached  at 
y*"  Cch  of  Coeset  to  a  numerous  Congregation  bap- 
tized two  children  and  received  three  more  (y'  had  re- 
ceived private  Baptism)  into  the  Congregation  they 
are  the  Grandchildren  ofM'Cavalli  \_Levally~\  their  Fa' 
is  Mady-lane  King  and  their  names  are  as  follow  viz' 
the  two  baptized  by  the  Do6ler  are  called  Sussannah  & 
Eliza  King — and  the  three  received  into  the  Congre- 
gation are  called  John,  Mary,  &  Sarah  King 

July  19'''  at  the  Cch  of  St  Paul,  Narraganset  Dr 
MacSparran  baptized  a  Child  of  Math"^  Cooper's  called 
Mathew  Cooper  Sponsors  Tho'  Phillips  &  M'^  Mac- 
Sparran 

On  the  1 2'^  of  July  at  y''  Cch  in  Coeset  and  on  y*"  1 9''' 
at  St  Paul's  in  Narraganset  was  read  his  Majestys 
orders  for  the  Form  of  prayer  to  be  used  for  the 
Royal  Family  viz'  so  far  as  relates  to  adding  the  clause 
(the  Issue  of  the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales)  ^  me 
Ja'  Macsparran  Cler. 

August  2^  1 74 1  Dodter  MacSparran  baptized  a  child 
named  John  Dickson  the  Second  Son  of  Anthony 
Dickson  and  Hannah  his  wife,  his  Surety's  were  M' 
Benj"  Mumford  &  Jn°  Cole  Esq'  Sherrif  [?]  and  M'^ 
Ann  Mumford 

Same  Day  the  Dod'  Catechized  y"  negro's  and  there 
were  present  on  y'  occasion  at  Cch  near  about,  or 
more  than  a  hundred;  and  afterwards  administred 
y"'  Sacrat  to  22  CoTcants  and  to  Sam'  Chase  the  first 
time 

August  4!''  1 741  pursuant  to  a  Request  made  in  writ- 
ing by  Sundry  Gentlemen  of  James  Towne  alias  Con- 


528  Church  Records  [1741-2 

nanicut  to  y^  Rev''  Do6ler  MacSparran.  The  said 
Doder  preached  at  Capt  Josiah  Arnolds  House  in 
said  Connanicut  to  a  verry  large  Audience  consider- 
ing the  busy  season  of  Harvest 

August  9''^  1 741  D'  MacSparran  preached  at  y^  Cch  in 
Coeset  to  a  numrous  Audience,  and  administred  the 
Eucharist  to  lo  Persons  two  new  Communicants  viz 
George  Dunbar  &  William  Gibbs 

Aug''  1 1 '''  Doder  MacSparran  administred  private  Bap- 
tism to  an  Indian  woman  named  Phebe  Jack  wife  to 
amos  Jack  and  Daughter  to  Indian  Sampson  on 
Boston  Neck 

Sepf  the  9'''  1 74 1  Doder  MacSparran  preached  at 
Capt  Arnold's  Connanicut  to  a  considerable  Congre- 
gation considering  the  Storm  preceding  hindred  the 
People  from  having  Notice,  also  on  y''  i"  Tuesday  in 
%hr^y'  i"  of  ^br  ^  i"  ditto  of  Decern" 

Nov"  19"'  1741  Dodor  MacSparran  being  sent  for  to 
the  House  of  Edward  Dyer  Sen'ofQuidneeset,  North 
Kingstown  Narraganset,  then  and  there  administred 
first  Clinick  Baptism,  and  then  the  Eucharist  to  Phebe 
Strength  field  Daughter  of  said  Dyer,  and  wife  of  M' 
William  strength  field 

Decern"  2^^"  1741  (The  Banns  of  matrimony  being 
duly  published  in  the  Cch  of  St  Paul  Narraganset) 
Rowland  Robinson  son  of  William  was  married  to 
Anstis  Gardiner  Daughter  of  Jn°  Gardiner  by  the 
Rev''  Doder  James  MacSparran  (40 

January  10"'  1741  Dr  MackSparran  preached  at  the 
House  of  M'  Jn°  Martin  of  Connanicut  to  an  Audi- 
ence of  above  120  Persons  being  y"  Second  Sunday 
in  the  Month  and  the  weather  too  uncertain  to  attempt 
a  Jorney  to  Warwick. 

April  16"'  1742  At  the  Church  of  St  Pauls  was  pub- 
lickly  baptized  an  Adult  Negro  called  Harry  by  D' 


1742]  church  Records  529 

MacSparran  his  witnesses  were  M'  William  Gibbs, 
Anthony  Dickson  and  Hannah  his  wife,  who  was 
churched  the  Same  Day  being  Good  Friday:  Said 
negro  is  the  Slave  of  D'  MacSparran  therefore  his 
name  according  to  y"  Custom  of  the  negro's  who  Sir- 
name  themselves  after  their  Masters  is  Harry  Mac- 
Sparran. 

April  18'''  1742  being  Easier  Day  Thomas  Dickson 
a  child  was  by  D'  MacSparran  baptized  at  St  Paul's 
Surety  s  y'^Dr  M'  Benjamin  Mumford  and  Mary  Story 
The  Same  Day  Ephraim  Gardiner  Esq'  having  re- 
ceived the  Eucharist  a  few  Days  ago  on  his  sick  Bed 
received  the  same  publickly  in  the  Church 

April  I  g*^  Easter  Monday  after  Prayers  the  Congrega- 
tion Met  continued  M' Tho^  Browne  church  [warden] 
for  another  year,  &  y"  Dorter  with  Consent  put  in  M' 
Benjamin  Mumford  Church  warden  for  y^  ensuing 
year  The  Same  Day  the  D'went  to  old  Warwick  and 
married  two  Daughters  of  m' George  Dunbar  the  Eld- 
est viz'  Elizabeth  to  Phillip  Browne  and  the  Second 
named  Mary  Dunbar  to  William  Sweet,  both  y^  men 
are  mariners  [?]  were  published  at  Newport  and  went 
up  to  their  Fa'"  to  be  married.  (42 

May  18"'  1742  D'  MacSparran  baptized  at  St  Paul's 
a  Child  of  Bennoni  Sweet  Jun'  named  T'hankful 

July  4.'''  Baptismus  Hypotheticus  adstratus  "^  D:D 
MacSparran  Josepho  Cleverly  in  Museo  Domestico 

July  G^  1742  D'  MacSparran  Baptized  at  Connani- 
cut  a  child  named  John  Bryant 

Aug''  7"'  Saturday  Miss  Ann  Cole  a  maiden  Daughter 
of  M'"  Cole's  (having  been  a  CoTcant  Several  years) 
was  buried  in  the  Cch  yard  of  St  Paul's  Narraganset; 
a  Sermon  was  preached  on  y'  occasion  at  Said  Cch  by 
D'  MacSparran  She  died  the  Day  before  in  y"  17""  Day 
of  a  Fever 


530  Church  Records  [1742 

Aug"  B'''  Sunday  the  D'  preached  at  Coeset  alias  war- 
wick  Cch  and  administred  y"  Eucharist  to  lo  CoTcants 
Aug"  9'^"  Monday  the  D'  preach'd  at  the  old  Town 
of  Warwick  administred  Baptism  to  an  Adult  young 
woman  named  Sarah  Alington 

August  14'''  Hannah  Potter  a  child  of  lo  mo'  old 
Daughter  of  Capt  Tho'  Potter  Esq'  Sherriff  of  New- 
port, was  baptized  at  Narraganset  by  D'  MacSparran, 
who,  w"'  his  wife  &  Miss  Phebe  Mumford  stood  Sure- 
ties 

Aug"  15"'  1742  William  Gardiner  a  Child  Son  of  Jn° 
Gardiner  of  Boston  Neck  was  baptized  at  St  Paul's 
Church  Narraganset  by  D'  MacSparran  who  with  M' 
Benj"  Mumford  &  his  wife  Ann  stood  Sureties  The 
Same  Day,  Mary  Edwards  a  child  Daughter  of  one 
M'  Edwards  a  Perriwigmaker  at  new  [?]  Greenwich  was 
baptized  by  the  Dodor  who  with  M'"  Ann  Mumford 
&  Phebe  her  Daughter  were  Suretys. 

August  17'^  1742.  Robert  Hazard  a  Youth  of  19  years 
3  mo^  and  17  Days  was  upon  his  own  Personal  Pro- 
fession of  Faith  baptized  by  y"  Rev'*  D'  MacSparran 
who  with  Joseph  Mumford  Esq'  and  the  Do6ter's 
wife  (aunt  by  the  Mo'  to  said  young  man)  were  his 
chosen  witnesses.  He  had  been  bred  in  Quakerism 
but  happily  recovered  from  y"  Errors  of  y'  Sed. 

Aug"  11  ly^-i  Sunday  at  St  Paul's  Dr  MacSparran 
baptized  an  Indian  woman  named  Elizabeth  Walmsly 
wife  of  Thomas  Walmsly  a  Mustee  &  her  child  named 
Patience  Walmsly  the  witness  for  the  Mo'  who  were 
also  the  Sureties  for  y"  child  we  [re]  M'  Benj"  Mum- 
ford, his  wife  Ann  and  Madam  Elizabeth  Cole. 

O^'  y''  14^''  1742  between  two  &  3  in  the  Morning 
died  suddenly  in  the  Chambers  with  Col  updike  and 
M'  Jn°  Checkley  Jun'  Capt  William  Walker  of  Pro- 
vidence F.  R.S.  and  was  interred  in  y"  Church  yard 


1742-3]  church  Records  531 

of  St  Pauls  Narraganset  the  1 5"'  of  said  Month  the 
funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Dr 

Decern''  9'''  1742  Jeremiah  Browne  Son  of  Sam'  Browne 
of  So:  Kingstown  was  married  by  Dod:or  MacSpar- 
ran  to  Hannah  Sherman  Daughter  of  the  late  Abiel 
Sherman  at  her  Mo'"  House  (43 

Decern''  25'^  Xmas  Day  M'  Sam'  Browne  upon  his  Ac- 
knowledgement in  y^  Cch  of  the  Sin  of  Uncleaness 
and  Profession  of  Repentance  was  restored  to  the 
Colon  and  we  had  25  Coicants  besides  the  Dr 
January  2''  1742  Stephen  Smith  a  Millar  was  married 
to  Mary  Story  a  Schoolmistress  by  D'  MacSparran  (44 
April  A^^  1743  faster  Monday  the  Vestry  Met  and  con- 
tinued M'  Benj"  Mumford  in  his  office  of  Cchwarden 
and  chose  M'  Stephen  Mumford  Cch  warden  in  the 
Room  of  Tho^  Browne  who  had  served  two  years 

George  Browne  (Son  of  William  Browne)  was  born  on 
Boston  Neck  Narraganset  Sepf  30'''  1721  and  died 
April  22''  1743  aged  21  years  6  Months  and  22  Days 
and  was  interred  in  his  Fa'"  orchard  in  South  Kings- 
town by  the  Rev''  Dodor  MacSparran  the  24'''  Day 
of  said  [month]  who  also  preached  his  Funeral  Sermon 

At  the  church  in  Coeset  alias  Warwick  Dodor  Mac- 
Sparran baptized  a  Grandchild  of  M'  Lavalley  a  child 
called  Ann  King — Suretys  the  Dr,  M''  Green  y"  wife 
of  Daniel  &  Miss  Mary  Lippet 

At  the  House  of  M'  Moses  Lippet  on  Wednesday  y' 
\d^  of  August  1743  Do6lor  MacSparran  intermarried 
Sam'  Chace  &  Freelove  Lippet  Daughter  of  Said 
Moses,&  preached  at  Coeset  Cch  y""  Sunday  following 
viz'  the  14'"  of  Aug''  (45 

August  23^^  1743  Thomas  Eldred  (Son  of  Capt  Jn") 
an  Adult  was  baptized  by  Immersion  in  Pettaquam- 
scut  Pond  by  Dr  MacSparran,  his  witnesses  were 
Benj"  Mumford  Daniel  Wier  and  Mrs  Eliz^  Cole 


532  Church  Records  [1743-4 

Decern"  the  10"'  1743  William  Martin  an  adult  Clinick 
and  Son  of  Jn°  Martin  of  Conanicut  Esq'  was  bap- 
tized at  the  House  of  his  Said  Fa'  by  Dr  MacSparran 

Feb  S'''  being  Ash  Wednesday  1743  Maroca  a  negro 
Child  given  to  M'  Benj"  Mumford  by  Dofter  Mac- 
Sparran was  baptized  by  y*"  Said  Doder  the  Suretys 
were  her  Master  and  Mistress  Mumford  and  their 
Daughter  Phebe,  aged  3  months 

Feb  9"'  Dodler  MacSparran  administred  Clinick  Bap- 
tism to  1  Adults  &  3  children  being  all  y"  Children  of 
Jn°  Martin  Esq'  upon  Conanicut  1  Adults  viz'  Bath- 
sheba,  and  Abigail  Martin  and  3  children  viz'  Ander- 
son, Oliver  &  Hannah  Martin  Witnesses  for  y*"  Adults 
and  Sureties  for  y''  Children  were  M'  Benjamin  Mum- 
ford and  the  Dodler 

April  5"'  1744  Dodter  MacSparran  married  Daniel 
Weir  to  Phebe  Mumford  at  the  House  of  her  Fa' 
M'  Benjamin  Mumford 

April  ig'''  1744  Dodor  MackSparran  baptized  a  child 
Son  ofTho^Walmsley  by  the  Name  of  James  Walms- 
ley.  Sureties  the  Do6ter,  M'  Benj''  Mumford  and  the 
Do6lor's  wife. 

June  24"'  St  Jn"  Baptist's  Bay  1744  At  St  Paul's 
Narraganset  were  by  D'  MacSparran  baptized  two 
Adults  viz'  William  Davis  and  Esther  Chappel — 
Their  Witness,  the  Do6lor,  Benj"  Mumford  Hannah 
MacSparran  and  Mrs  Bentley 

The  Same  Day  the  three  children  of  M'  —  Bentley 
Taylor  were  baptized  viz  William  Bentley,  James 
Bentley  and  Amelia  Bentley;  Suretys  the  above  Said, 
except  y'  M"  Ann  Mumford  stood  instead  of  M"  Bent- 
ley who  was  Mo'  to  y"  children 

JuneiW^  1744  D'  MacSparran  married  Ezekiel  Hatch 
of  Newport  to  Mary  Peckham  of  South  Kingstowne 
at  the  House  of  Thomas  Peckham  Fa'  of  said  Mary 


1744]  Church  Records  533 

in  S°  Kingstowne  aforsaid. 

July  22''  Sunday  after  divine  Service  at  the  House  of 
William  Bentley  in  North  Kingstown  Doctor  Mac- 
Sparran  joined  together  in  marriage  William  Davis 
and  Esther  Chappel 

August  3'^  1744  at  M'"  Cole's  Dofter  MacSparran  ad- 
ministred  Clinick  Baptism  to  a  Sick  child  viz:  Jn° 
Mumford,  Son  of  William  and  Sussannah  Mumford 

September  a^  1744  T'uesday  Do6lor  MacSparran  read 
Prayers  and  preached  at  Jn°  Martin's  of  Conanicut 
Esq',  baptized  an  Adult  youth  named  William  Mott 
Son  of  Will""  &  Katrine  Mott  witnesses  were  the  D' 
&  William,  and  Bathsheba  Martin:  at  the  same  time 
and  Place  the  Dodter  married  George  Dunwel  to 
Phebe  Tennant  Daughter  of  y"  late  Jn°  Tennant  The 
Congregation  consisted  of  above  an  100  M'  Honyman 
&  M'  Davenport  of  Boston  were  there 

Septe  10"'  1744  Monday  Dodor  MacSparran  baptized 
Mary  Green  wife  of  Jonathan  Green  Talor  at  M' 
Francis's,  who,  with  his  wife  and  Miss  Molly  Lippit 
stood  her  witnesses 

gjr  ^<^ih  ij^^  Sunday  Dr  MacSparran  baptized  at  St 
Paul's  a  child  named  Mary  Gardiner  Daughter  of  Jn° 
Gardiner  of  Boston  Neck  Suretys  M''  MacSparran, 
Miss  Betty  Gardiner  &  Robert  Hazard 

Nov''  18'^  D'  MacSparran  baptized  Abigail  Sampson 
wife  of  Sampson  and  [sic]  Ind"  but  she  is  a  mustee  and 
old  woman 

Nov''  25'''  D'  MacSparran  married  George  Read  and 
Eleanor  Read  after  due  Publication  in  the  Body  of 
the  Cch. 

March  10"'  1744  D'  MacSparran  baptized  (at  New 
London  where  he  officiated  the  3"^  &  lo'^'  viz'*"  the  first 
and  Second  Sundays  in  March)  Elizabeth  the  Daugh- 
ter of  Mathew  and  Abigail  Stewart.  Suretys  the  Said 


534  Church  Records  [^745 

Do6ter  his  Spouse  and  Mrs  Hannah  Mumford,  Said 
Child  was  born  the  6""  of  said  March  ab'  3  post 
meridien 

April  7"'  1745  D'  MacSparran  baptized  at  St  Pauls 
John  Wier  a  child,  Son  of  Daniel  and  Phebe  Wier, 
Said  Jn°  was  born  on  Ashwednesday  last,  viz'  the  27'" 
of  February.  Suretys  D'  MacSparran  M'  Benj"  Mum- 
ford  and  his  wife  the  grand  Fa'  &  Mo'  thereof 

Ap7-il  11'''  1745  Good  Friday  D'  MacSparran  baptized 
Robert  Dickson  a  Child,  Son  of  Anthony  and  Hannah 
Dickson  Sponsors  D'  MacSp;  Benj"  and  Ann  Mum- 
ford 

April i\  at  Coeset  Cch  D'  MacSparran  baptized  Sam' 
King  a  child  son  of  Magdalene  King  Sponsors  M' 
Lavally  M'  Francis  and  Miss  Mary  Lippet 
The  Same  Day  at  Col  updikes  in  Narraganset  the 
Dr  married  James  Boon  Son  of  Samuel  to  Mary  Up- 
dike eldest  Daughter  of  Richard  Updike  deceased 

April  11'^  1745  D'  MacSparran  baptized  a  child  of  6 
or  7  years  old  and  Son  of  Capt  Jn"  Dickinson  by  the 
name  of  Christopher  Dickinson 

May  if  1745  D'  MackSparran  administed  Clinick 
Baptism  to  Edward  Shearman  an  Adult,  Son  of  Wil- 
liam and  Abigail  Sherman  of  North  Kingstown.  The 
Day  before  y'  the  D'"  beloved  man  Servant  a  Xn  ne- 
gro named  Stepney  was  drowned  in  Pettaquamscut 
Pond,  the  faithfullest  of  all  servants,  and  was  interred 
in  the  Church  yard  of  St  Paul's  Narraganset  with  a 
decent  Christian  Solemnity 

May  ly"'  1745  D'  MacSparran  read  Prayers  and 
preached  at  the  House  of  Samuel  Cooper  of  Scituate 
30  miles  distant  from  his  own  House,  and  baptized 
a  Son  of  one  M'  Howard  named  Joseph  Howard  and 
received  another  of  S''  Howard's  Son's  viz' John  How- 
ard into  the  Congregation  having  been  formerly  pri- 


1745-6]  Church  Records  535 

vately  baptized  by  M'  Pigot  in  his  Travels  through 
those  woods,  where  his  wife  had,  and  Still  has  Some 
Lands 

Decern'' 1 4."' D'  MackSparran  preached  M'  Moses  Lip- 
pets  funeral  Sermon  and  buyed  [j/V]  him  in  his  own 
Ground  in  Warwick,  he  died  the  12"'  ab'  11  in  the 
forenoon 

Decern''  ig'''  1745  D'  MacSparran  married  James  Lins- 
comb  to  Penelope  Briant  [?J  widow  at  the  Drs  House, 
in  the  presense  of  y"  Rev''  M'  Punderson  and  other 
witnesses 

Feb  7'^"  1745  D'  MacSparran  married  Capt  Jn°  Cole 
to  Mary  Bissel  both  of  North  Kingstown  at  the  House 
of  her  Bro'  Tho'  Bissel  many  witnesses 

March  13'''  1745/6  D'  MacSparran  married  William 
Dyer  to  Mercy  Pain  at  M' Jn"  Paine's  of  Conanicut 

April  ig'''  1746  D'  MacSparran  read  Prayers  and 
preached  at  M'  Abraham  Francis's  in  old  Warwick 
and  baptized  M'  Robert  Westgate  a  Joiner  and  Adult 
by  Immersion  his  chosen  witnesses  were  y''  Dodor 
M'  Samuel  Chace  of  Providence  and  Miss  Mary  Lip- 
pet  of  Warwick  in  the  presence  also  of  an  Assembly 
of  about  40  or  50  other  Persons 

April  20"'  Sunday  D'  MacSparran  preached  at  Coeset 
Church 

May  iS""  a  Storm  of  rain  hindered  my  Attendance  at 
Coeset 

May  25"'  Trinity  Sunday  officiated  at  St  Pauls  &  bap- 
tized Benjamin  Wier  a  child  of  Daniel  Wier's  one  M' 
Burr  a  dissenting  Min'  was  at  Cch 

June  7'*  D'  MacSparran  read  Prayers  &  preached  at 
M'  Francis's  in  old  Warwick 

June  8'^  Sunday  in  the  Morning  abt  8  of  the  Clock 
D'  MacSparran  baptized  by  Immersion  a  young  wo- 


536  Church  Records  [1746 

man  named  Patience  Stafford  Daughter  of  Sam'  Staf- 
ford of  Warwick,  and  then  from  M'  Francis  rode  to 
the  Cch  read  Prayers  and  preach''  there,  and  in  the 
Afternoon  reached  Home. 

Aug''  9'''  1 746  D'  MacSparran  preached  at  old  Warwick 
and  baptized  3  children  of  one  M'  Green  a  Taylor, 
named  Caleb,  Stutely,  &  Elizabeth  &  the  Same  Day 
he  baptized  by  Immersion  in  the  Cove,  Katharine 
Lippet  wife  of  Xtopher  Lippet  of  Shantecut.  She  was 
Daughter  of  Anthony  Holden  deceased 

05f  4"'  1746,  D'  MacSparran  (after  reading  the  Visi- 
tation Office  over  Mistress  Hester  Powel  the  Grand- 
mo'),  then  baptized  two  children  of  James  Helme 
Esq'  &  Ester  Powel  his  wife,  named  Rowse  and  Sarah 
Helme.  Sureties  the  D'  and  Madam  Coddington  of 
Newport 

The  id-^  of  said  O^'  died  said  Hester  Powel  and  was 
buryed  on  Tower  Hill  the  ii"^  by  Dr  MacSparran  who 
preached  her  funeral  Sermon  in  M'  Torrey's  Meeting 
house. 

Decern:"  1^'^  1 746  D'  MacSparran  preached  at  the  County 
House  Tower  Hill  and  baptizd  Powel  Helme  a  child 
of  ab'  4  years  old,  Son  of  James  Helme  Esq'  and  Es- 
ther his  wife,  and  two  children  of  M'  Job  Shaw's  the 
Sadler  called  Tho'  and  Jn°  Shaw  Sureties  for  the  first 
the  D',  Benj"  Mumford  and  M"  Mary  Gardiner  of 
Boston  Neck  for  the  two  latter  Said  M'  and  M"  Es- 
ther Helme 

Decern''  7'''  1746  Sunday  D'  MacSparran  baptized  a 
Child  of  Anthony  Dickson's  called  William  Dickson, 
Sureties,  the  D',  Benj"  Mumford  &  Ann  Mumford 
his  wife 

Feb  I''  1746  D'  MacSparran  officiated  at  his  own 
House  (as  usual  in  the  hard  winter  Months)  and  bap- 
tized  Ezekiel  Hatch  a  child.  Son  of  Capt  Ezekiel 


1746-7]  church  Records  537 

Hatch  and  Mary  his  wife,  born  the  —  Day  of  July 
1746  Sureties  the  Do(5l'  &  his  wife  and  David  Browne 
setwork  Cooper  of  Newport. 

Feb  8"'  1746  D'  Macsparran  preached  wm  chappel's 
funeral  sermon  &  buryed  him  in  Smith's  burying 
Place  —  were  at  Cch  there 

Feb  15'''  1746  D'  MacSparran  officiated  at  his  own 
House  and  baptized  Caleb  Faulkner  Son  of  M' Faulk- 
ner y^  cloathier  he  is  a  youth  of  9  or  10  years  Suretys 
the  D',  Benj"  Mumford  and  M"  Mary  Gardiner  wife 
of  Jn°  Gardiner  of  Boston  Neck 

March  i"  1746  D'  MacSparran  officiated  at  his  own 
House  and  Baptized  Bently  Faulkener  Son  of  M' 
Faulkner  the  Cloathier;  he  is  a  youth  of  10  or  11 
years  Sureties  The  Dr,  Benjamin  Mumford  and  M" 
Ann  Mumford 

March  4."'  Ash  Wednesday  D'  MacSparran  officiated  at 
Home  and  baptized  a  Motherless  child  of  John  Cook's 
Joiner  by  the  name  of  Alice  Cook  7  years  next  may 
Sureties  her  Master  &  Mistress  Tho'Bennetand  Ann 
his  wife.  Said  Alice  was  born  May  15"'  1740 

March  10'''  1746  visited  at  Elisha  Sherman's  and  Ad- 
ministred  clinick  Baptism  to  his  Daughter  Elizabeth 
Sherman  who  in  all  Appearance  lyes  on  her  Death 
Bed  and  in  10  Days  after  he  preached  at  the  Funeral 
of,  and  buried  said  Eliz""  Sherman 

A-pril  19"'  1747  After  the  Administration  of  the  Eu- 
charist at  St  Pauls  Narraganset,  the  Male  Congre- 
gation Stayed  in  Cch,  and  chose  M'  Sam^  Browne 
church  warden,  to  serve  with  M'  Benjamin  Mumford 
who  has  been  Cch  warden  for  2  or  3  years  past 

Sunday  Aug''  2'' 1747  D'  MacSparran  Baptized  the  Son 
of  Capt  Jn°  Cole  and  Mary  his  wife  an  Infant  by  the 
name  of  Thomas 

Aug"  6"'  1747  D^  MacSparran  baptized  M''  Elizabeth 


538  Church  Records  [1747-8 

Wilkinson  wife  of  Capt  Wilkinson,  of  Newport  by 
Immersion  in  Pettaquamscut  Pond  Witnesses  the  D', 
his  wife,  &  M'"  Jane  Coddington 

Aug'*  ly'''  1747  D'  MacSparran  baptized  a  Youth 
named  Ichabod  Potter  aged  \i  years  on  the  5""  of 
March  last  past,  and  Son  of  Tho'  Potter  deceased  and 
Hannah  his  wife;  his  Sureties  were  the  Dr,  his  wife 
and  the  Lad's  Grandfa'  viz'  Henry  Gardiner 

Wednesday  the  19"'  of  Aug"  \"l\'~l  Dr  MacSparran  bap- 
tized two  women  by  Immersion  in  Pettaquamscut 
Pond  viz'  Freelove  Browne  a  Maiden  Daughter  of 
Sam'  Browne  of  So:  Kingstowne  and  her  niece  Mary 
Hatch  wife  of  Capt  Ezekiel  Hatch  at  Sea  and  Miss- 
ing, and  Daughter  of  Tho^  Peckham  Carpenter  their 
chosen  witness  were  said  Sam'  Browne,  M"  MacSpar- 
ran &  M''  Anstis  Robinson 

O^ober  4""  1747  Sunday  and  Sacrat  Day  at  St  Paul's 
Narraganset,  Dr  MacSparran  admitted  to  y"  Eucharist 
forthefirst  Time  Anthony  Dickson,  Freelove  Browne, 
Mary  Hatch  M'  Falconer  the  Clothier  was  admitted 
some  Months  before 

'Nov''  7"'  1747  D'  MacSparran  preached  at  M''  Lip- 
pet's  in  Warwick,  and  the  next  morning  being  Sunday 
administred  the  Eucharist  to  Mrs  Lippet,  M'^  Francis 
and  Miss  Molly  Lippet  her  two  Daughter's,  from 
thence  proceeded  to  Coeset  Cch  read  Prayers  & 
preached  and  administred  the  Eucharist  to  13  Coicants 
two  whereof  were  new  members  viz'  M'  Tingley  &  his 
wife 

Nov"  15"'  1747  D' MacSparran  baptized  William  Wier 
an  Infant,  the  Third  Son  of  Daniel  Wier,  the  Sponsors 
were  the  D'  &  the  child's  Grandfa'  &  Grandmo'  viz 
Benj"  and  Ann  Mumford 

April  1 6"'  1 748  At  Warwick  baptized  Lucy  Green  a 
child 


1748]  church  Records  539 

26'^  Phillis  Daughter  of  Negro  Moll  was  baptized  by 
y^  Dodlor  before  he  sold  her  to  Daniel  Dennison 

May  8"'  1748  D'  MacSparran  baptized  Jn°  Gardiner 
a  Child  Son  of  Jn"  Gardiner,  &  Mary  his  wife  Spon- 
sors Tho^  Philips  —  &  M'"  Hannah  MacSparran 

May  14'"  1748  D'  MacSparran  baptized  Joseph  Lip- 
pet's  Daughter  an  Infant  by  y"  name  of  Ann  Fran- 
cis, Sureties,  the  D',  M''  Francis  &  Miss  Molly  Lip- 
pet  the  child's  Aunts 

June  id^  1 748  The  Banns  of  Matrimony  between  the 
following  Partys  having  been  duly  ackd  The  Rev'' 
Do6lor  MacSparran  Married  John  Coit  of  New  Lon- 
don widower  &shipwright  to  Hannah  Potter  of  North 
Kingstown  in  Narraganset  widow  ante  Meridiem  [j/V] 

Sepf  1 9""  1748  Dodor  MacSparran  baptized  by  Im- 
mersion in  Pettaquamscut  Pond  Sarah  Browne  (alias 
Freebody)  wife  of  M'  Peleg  Browne  of  Newport  born 
in  1 72 1  in  Od'  viz'  y"  27"^  of  her  Age  her  chosen  wit- 
nesses were  the  Do6lor,  his  wife  and  M'"  Elizabeth 
Wilkinson 

05loher  f  5"'  1748  D'  MacSparran  read  Prayers  at  the 
House  of  Jn°  Martin  Esq'  of  Conanicut,  and  bap- 
tized his  Son  William  Martin's  child  by  the  Name  of 
Phebe,  Bathsheba  Martin  the  childs  Aunt  M^'  Hatch 
and  Capt  Philip  Wilkinson  were  Sponsors,  after  w"*" 
the  Rev''  M'  Matthew  Greaves  of  New  London 
preached  an  Excellent  Sermon 

0£l'  1 5"'  1748  D'  MacSparran  read  Prayers  &  preached 
at  M''  Lippet's  of  old  Warwick  &  administred  y" 
Eucharist  to  M"  Francis  a  Clinick  and  5  other  Per- 
son's 

05f  16'^  Sunday  1748  D'  MacSparran  read  Prayers  at 
Coeset  church,  baptized  Margret  King  the  Child  of 
M'  Magdalene  King.  Sponsors  M'  Lavallee,  M'^ 
Green  &  M'"  Baker,  then  he  preached  and  adminis- 


540  Church  Records  [1748 

tred  the  Eucharist  to  14  Coicants.  N°  of  Coicants  in 
all  at  Warwick  16 

Nov"  i"  1748  Hannah  Clark  Daughter  of  Jn°  Clark 
late  of  Conanicut  Tanner,  was  born  January  the  y"' 
1737,  and  baptized  by  D'  MacSparran  the  foresaid 
i"of  Nov'  1748  who  then  read  Prayers  and  preached 
at  the  House  of  Jn°  Martin  Esq'  on  Said  Island 

Nov"  17'^  died,  &  on  y'^  18'''  1748,  was  buryed  in  the 
Shearman's  burying  Ground  Margret  Sherman  wife 
of  Stephen  Sherman,  by  Dr  MacSparran,  who  also 
preached  her  funeral  Sermon 

Nov"  10"'  1748  Sunday,  read  Prayers  and  preachd  at 
Coeset  Cch 

2i"administred  the  Eucharist,  read  prayer  &  preached 
at  M'"  Lippets  old  Warwick 

27"'  DiUo  the  D'  officiated  at  St  Pauls  narraganset  and 
baptized  an  Adult  Bina  a  negro  woman  belonging  to 
Tho^  Philips  Esq'  She  is  mo'  to  Rose  a  CoTcant  of  y' 
church  her  witnesses  her  Master  &  M'^  MacSparran 

Decern"  4"'  1 748  the  D'  officiated  at  St  Pauls  &  ad- 
ministred  Eucharist 

6"'  Dillo  the  D'  officiated  at  M'  Martin's  on  Conan- 
cicut[jzV]  and  baptized  a  Litle  Boy  called  John  Clark 
Son  of  Jn°  Clark  late  of  Conanicut  Tanner  he  came 
from  Lisburn  in  Ireland 

January  31''  the  Doder  preached  a  Funeral  Sermon 
at  Sam'  StaffiDrds  on  occasion  of  y"  Death  of  his  Son 
in  Law  Jonathan  Green,  whom  he  buryed  in  Staffords 
burying  Place 

Feb  \" Wednesday  t\ie.  Dodler  read  Prayers  and  preached 
at  M"  Lippets 

1'^  he  baptized  Moses  Lippet  her  Eldest  Son  by  Im- 
mersion Above  his  own  Mildam 

Feb  28""  1748  Dodlor   MacSparran  preached  a  Fu- 


1748-9]  church  Records  541 

neral  Sermon  at  St  Pauls  on  occasion  of  the  Death  of 
Samuel,  Son  of  Tho'  Phillips,  who  died  the  24'"  in 
the  Morning  and  was  buried  28'^ 

May  28'''  1749  D'  MacSparran  baptized  at  St  Paul's 
Elizabeth  Gardiner  an  Infant  of  4  months  old  Daugh- 
ter of  Jn°  and  Ann  Gardiner  from  Ireland,  but  now 
Inhabitants  of  Greenwich;  Sureties  y*"  D',  his  wife,  and 
Hannah  Dickson 

June  ^^  1749  Sunday  at  St  Paul's  inter  horam  8vam 
et  12m  a  m  Dr  MacSparran  married  one  Francis — a 
Frenchman  to  Sarah  Cooper  Daughter  of  Stephen 
Cooper  of  North  Kingstown 

September  3^^  1749  D'  MacSparran  went  after  Cch  to 
M'  Tho'  Phillips's  in  N°  Kingstowne  and  there  mar- 
ried Christopher  Phillips  Jun'  (Son  of  Xtopher  Phil- 
lips) to  Mary  Phillips  Daughter  of  said  Tho^  [they 
are  Bro's  children] 

Nov"  S'''  1749  D'  MacSparran  baptized  a  negro  child 
w'^'"  he  gave  to  mistress  Alice  Gardiner,  by  the  name 
of  Jane,  She  is  a  child  of  negro  Maroca's 

Nov"  9""  1749  Thomas  Gardiner  (Son  of  John  Gardi- 
ner of  Boston  Neck)  was  married  to  Martha  Gardi- 
ner (Daughter  of  Henry  y''  Son  of  Nicholas  Gardiner) 
both  of  South  Kingstown  by  y^  Rev'^  D'  MacSparran 

Mrs  Brenton  who  died  on  Friday  night  Nov' y^  lo"" 
Day  1749,  was  interred  in  her  Husband,  major  Ebene- 
zer  Brenton's  Farm,  on  Monday  the  13'''  of  said  Nov' 
the  Funeral  Sermon  was  preached,  and  the  other 
proper  Services  performed  by,  the  Rev''  Dodor  Mac- 
Sparran 

Nov"  30'''  1749  Dr  MacSparran  being  sent  for  to  Eli- 
sha  Sherman's  there  administred  clinick  Baptism  to 
his  Son  Elisha,  sick  of  a  Consumption,  and  ab'  30 
years  old. 

Decern"  16"'   1749  on  Saturday  D'  MacSparran  read 


542  Church  Records  [1749 

Prayers  &  preached  at  M'"  Lippets  and  baptized  two 
children:  one  Mary  Green  the  child  of  widow  Green, 
whose  deceased  Husband  was  a  Taylor;  Surties  D' 
MacSparran,  Patience  Stafford  and  Mary  Lippet.  the 
other  Lucy  Lippet  an  Infant  of  5  or  6  Days  old,  the 
child  of  Joseph  Lippet  and  Lucy  his  wife.  Sureties  y" 
Dr,  M'  Francis  and  said  Mary  Lippet 

Decern"  21"  1749  St  Thomas's  Day,  after  Prayer  and 
a  Funeral  Sermon, D' MacSparran  buried  ElishaSher- 
man  Jun'  in  the  Burying  Place  of  the  Family,  he  died 
of  a  Consumption  &  was  baptized  Nov'  30  as  above 

Decern"  29"'  1749  Friday.  D'  MacSparran  baptized 
two  children  of  William  Davis  and  o{  Esther  his  wife; 
a  Son  &  Daughter;  y"  Son's  name  is  William,  &  y^ 
name  of  y''  Daughter  Anstis.  Suretys  y^  Dr,  Benjamin 
Mumford,  Mary  chappel  y"  Grandmo'  &  Hannah 
Dickson 

The  Banns  of  Marriage  between  Martin  Howard  Jun' 
and  Ann  Conklin  being  duly  published  in  Trinity 
church  in  Newport  on  Rhode  Island,  and  certifica- 
tion thereof  being  had  under  the  Hand  of  y*"  Rev"*  M' 
James  Honyman  Re6tor  of  said  church,  said  Partys 
were  joined  together  in  holy  Matrimony  at  the  House 
of  Major  Ebenezer  Brenton  Fa' of  said  Ann  on  Friday 
the  29'''  of  Decern"  1749  by  the  Rev"*  James  MacSparran 
D.  D.  Incumbent  of  St  Pauls  in  Narraganset  the  Par- 
ish where  said  Partys  did  then  reside 

January  28""  1749  Sunday  D'  MacSparran  preached  at 
his  own  House  Churched  M''  Wier  and  baptized  her 
Son  and  Infant  James  Wier,  Sureties  y'  Defter,  M" 
MacSparran  and  Samuel  Mumford,  said  child's  uncle 

March  ^'^  1749  Sunday  D'  Macsparran  preached  at 
his  own  House,  Churched  M'"  Mary  Gardiner  wife 
of  Jn°  Gardiner  of  Boston  Neck  and  baptized  their 
Infant  Son  by  y"  name  of  Benjamin  Gardiner.  Sure- 


1749-50]        church  Records  543 

ties  were  M'  Benjamin  Mumford,  Daniel  Wier,  & 
Hannah  MacSparran  y"  Do6ler's  wife 

March  f  6'''  1749  ^^^  ^'  Buried  Rose  Phillips  a  negro 
woman  of  Tho'  Phillips's  in  St  Paul's  Cch  yard 

April ig'^  1750  D'  MacSparran  preached  [at]  Christo- 
pher Phillips  and  baptized  three  children  Thomas  and 
Mary  Phillips,  children  of  Samuel  Phillips  Son  of 
Tho'  and  Samuel  Phillips  Son  of  Xtopher  Phillips 
Jun'  and  Mary  his  wife  daughter  of  said  Thomas 
Phillips  Sponsors  Tho'  Phillips  and  Christopher  his 
Bro'  Sarah  Christophers  wife  and  M''  MacSparran 

April  21"  D'  MacSparran  baptized  by  Immersion  at 
Warwick  Elizabeth  Green  wife  of  Richard  Green ;  and 
by  Affusion  Welthan  Lippet  wife  of  Jeremiah  Lippet 
and  sister  of  said  Richard 

April  lof  Sunday  the  Do6ler  officiated  at  Coeset  Cch. 

Sept  6'''  T^hursday  1750  Their  Banns  of  marriage  being 
duly  published  at  the  church  of  St  Paul  in  Narra- 
ganset,and  no  Objection  made,  John  Anthony, an  In- 
dian man,  was  married  to  Sarah  George  an  Indian  wo- 
man, the  widow  and  Dowager  Queen  to  George  Au- 
gutus  Nineagret  deceased,  by  Dr  MacSparran 
gir  ^jAh  ly^o  'Thursday  the  Banns  of  marriage  duly 
ack'd,  sans  objeftion  Dr  MacSparran  joined  together 
in  holy  Matrimony  Samuel  Mumford  and  Elizabeth 
Goddard 

Nov"  15"'  1750  Thursday  the  Banns  first  duely  acked 
Dr  Macsparran  married  John  Courtney  of  Newport 
to  Ann  Pindar  of  North  Kingstowne  Narraganset 

Nov'  18"'  1750  Sunday  The  Banns  first  duly  acked  at 
St  Pauls,  D'  MacSparran  married  William  Potter 
youngest  Son  of  y"  late  Col:  Potter  to  Penelope 
Hazard  Eldest  Daughter  of  Col:  Thomas  Hazard, 
both  of  S°  Kingston  Narraganset  at  Said  Col  Hazard' 
House 


544  Church  Records  [1751 

April  7"'  1 75 1  being  Easter  Day  after  divine  Service 
over,  the  Vestry  or  Parishioners  voted  y'  Sam' 
Browne  and  Benj"  Mumford  be  continued  Cch  war- 
dens for  y'  year  ensuing,  &  all  other  Parish  officers 
remain  as  they  were,  without  change,  and  y*  Record 
should  be  made  of  the  Same,  as  it  here  is  by  me 
James  MacSparran  Incumbent 

May  ig"'  Sunday  1751  D'  MacSparran  baptized  at 
Coeset,  alias  Warwick  church  two  children  viz'  Paul 
King  Son  of  Magdalene  King,  his  Suretys  were,  M' 
Tingley,  a  Gentleman  unknown  to  y*"  Do6ler,  and  M" 
Levallee  Grandmo'  of  y"  child;  And  Mary  Macguire 
Daughter  of  M'  Macguire  Schoolmaster  at  Greenwich 
new  town,  her  Suretys  were,  M'  Berry  schoolmaster, 
Ann  Gardiner,  and  Margret  Pearce. 

May  23'^  1 75 1  1"hursday  At  the  House  of  Henry  Gar- 
diner in  South  Kingstowne  Dr  MacSparran  married 
Thomas  Mumford  a  Sadler  to  Abigail  Gardiner 
Daughter  of  said  Henry  who  gave  her  away  M' 
Graves  at  my  House 

July  20*^  1 75 1  Dr  MacSparran,  after  preaching  his 
funeral  sermon  buried  Capt  Benoni  Sweet  in  his  Fa- 
milys  burying  Place,  and  in  his  90""  year 

Sepf  15'^  1 75 1  D'  MacSparran  baptized  Jeremiah 
Pierce  a  child,  Son  of  one  Pierce  who  died  at  Sea,  and 
Peggy  Martin  his  Mo'.  The  childs  Suretys  were  y" 
Dodor,  M'  Macguire  and  M'^  macSparran 

Sept  26'^  175 1  'Thursday.  Dr  MacSparran  baptized 
Christopher  Phillips  a  child  and  Son  to  Christopher 
y^  Son  of  Xtopher  y*"  Grandfa'  Suretys  y*"  two  Grand- 
fa'^  Tho'  &  Xtopher  Phillips  and  M"  MacSparran. 
The  Same  Day  y*"  D'  Baptized  a  negro  child  of  Col 
updikes  by  name  Bridget,  her  Suretys  M'"  Updike, 
her  Daughter  Ruth  Wanton  and  y"  Dodler 

Sunday  Se-pf  i()'^  \'-j  c^\  Dodor  MacSparran  at  his  House 


1751]  church  Records  545 

in  y*"  Evening  baptized  his  servant  Emblo's  child,  a 
male,  by  y°  name  of  Stepney  Suretys  y"  Dr  and  his  wife 
and  Peter  Mumford 

05lober  lo'''  1751  D'  MacSparran  married  Amos  Gar- 
diner y"  son  of  Jn"  Gardiner,  to  Sarah  Bill,  Daughter 
of  Capt  Joshua  Bill  of  S"  Kingstowne 

Nov""  16'''  1 75 1  D'  MacSparran  read  Prayers  and 
preached  at  M'^  Lippets  in  Warwick,  and  baptized  a 
child  named  Joseph  Lippet  Son  of  Joseph  Lippet  and 
Lucy  his  wife,  y"  Suretys  were  y^  Dodor  and  M" 
Francis 

Nov''  24'^  1751  D'  McSparran  baptized  Ann  wier  an 
Infant  at  y*"  St  Pauls  narraganset  She  is  Daughter  of 
Daniel  wier  and  Phebe  his  wife  the  Sureties  were  Ann 
Mumford  ye  child's  Grand  mo'  M''  Sussannah  Bent- 
ley  and  Peter  Mumford 

At  the  church  of  St  Paul  on  Sunday  y'  14."'  of  Nov"  1751 
after  divine  Service  the  Gentlemen  of  y"  vestry  of  said 
Congregation  stayd,  and  considered  the  Complaint  of 
y"  Rev**  Dodler  Macsparran  Pastor  of  this  church, 
seting  forth,  that  he  is  greatly  agrieved  and  bro't  under 
oppression  by  the  assessors  or  Ratemakers  of  South 
Kingstowne  within  y*"  said  Do6tors  Cure. 
After  considering  that  matter  in  all  its  Circum- 
stances, they  come  to  y^  following  Resolutions  and 
votes  First  They  humbly  apprehend,  that  it  never 
was  the  Intent  of  y*"  Legislature  of  this  Colony  to  con- 
sider Clergymen,  as  taxable  Inhabitants;  That  there- 
fore the  rating  said  Gentleman  contrary  to  the  general 
Custom  of  new  England  in  such  Cases,  and  without 
any  express  Law  to  y^  Purpose,  is  a  Piece  of  unde- 
served disrespedl  to  Him,  and  in  him,  to  every  Min' 
and  member  of  the  church  of  England  in  this  Colony. 
And  they  think  it  their  Duty  to  abet  his  cause  (as  far 
as  in  Justice  they  may)  and  aid  him  in  obtaining  that 
Exemption  from  Taxes,  servile,  civil  and  other  Dutys, 


546  Church  Records  [1751-2 

w'^  they  conceive,  him  intitled  to,  in  virtue  of  his  high 
and  holy  office,  but 

Secondly,  as  they  profess  themselves  the  Disciples  of 
Christ,  y*"  Prince  of  Peace,  and  would  desire  an  amica- 
ble End  to  be  put  to  this  vexatious  affair;  It  was  voted, 
that  Mess''  Jn°  Case  Esq',  M'  Christopher  Phillips, 
M'  Jn°  Gardiner,  and  M'  Saml  Browne,  should  write 
to  said  Assessors,  and  desire  them  to  call  in  and  re- 
consider that  Rate  Bill,  and  either  genrously  (as  they 
apprehend  they  ought  to  do)  expunge  &  erase  Said 
Doctor's  name  and  Rate,  or,  at  least,  order  their  Col- 
lector to  forbear  either  distraining  y"  Goods,  or  im- 
prisoning the  Person  of  the  Said  Do6tor,  until  an  Op- 
portunity offered  of  knowing  the  mind  of  y"  Legisla- 
ture in  that  Matter,  and  a  letter  was  wrote,  and  signed 
by  those  Four  Gentlemen  accordingly  to  y*"  Purpose 
of  the  above  Resolutions 

January  f  i"  Day  1752  D'  MacSparran  married 
George  Fowler  Jun'  to  Deborah  Tanner  at  y''  House 
of  M'  Christopher  Phillips  in  North  Kingstowne 
their  Banns  being  first  duly  published 

January  16"'  1752  D'  MacSparran  married  Thomas 
Wicks  of  Warwick,  to  Ruth  Browne,  at  the  House 
of  M'  William  Browne  in  South  Kingstowne  the  Fa' 
of  said  Ruth  their  Banns  being  first  duly  published 

The  Eldest  Son  of  Thomas  and  Martha  Gardiner  was 
born  at  Boston  Neck  the  24""  of  August  1751  and 
was  baptized  by  the  name  of  Frederick,  by  D'  Mac- 
Sparran, on  Sunday  the  \(^'''  of  January  1752.  Sponsors 
the  Do6lor,  Jn°  Gardiner  y*"  childs  Grandfa'  and  Mary 
Gardiner  his  Grandmo'  in  Law 

March  15"'  1752  D'  MacSparran  baptized  Benjamin 
Baily  a  child  of  abt  10  years  old;  the  Sureties  were 
y^  Do6lor,  Tho'  Bennet  &  Ann  Bennet  the  Grandfa' 
&  Grandmo'  of  y''  child 


1752]  Church  Records  547 

James  MacSparran   |  ^^"J  Mumford 
-'  T  L t  ^  ^nh  wardens 

Incumb  [Samuel  brown 

Easter  week  1752  The  Rev''  D'  MacSparran  present. 
It  was  voted  at  church  that  last  years  church  wardens 
and  vestry  be  rechose  and  they  are  as  follows  Sam' 
Browne  &  Benjamin  Mumford  church  wardens  ||  Col 
Dan:  updike  M^  Christopher  Phillips,  M'  Tho^  Phil- 
lips, M'  Jn°  Gardner,  Col  Tho'  Hazard,  Jn°  Case  Esq', 
Thomas  Browne  Esq',  Capt  Samuel  Albro  &  Peter 
Mumford  vestrymen  and  Daniel  Wier,  Precentor  or 
Parish  clerk 

June  27'''  1752  Sunday  Sarah  Gardiner  a  child  was  bap- 
tized at  St  Pauls  by  y"  Rev''  James  MacSparran  Doc- 
tor in  Divinity.  The  Sureties  were  Benj"  Mumford, 
Ann  Mumford  his  wife,  and  y"  widow  Mary  Chappel. 

July  9'^"  1752  'Thursday  D'  MacSparran  (by  Immer- 
sion, in  Petaquamscut  Pond,)  baptized  Abigail  Sher- 
man, in  y*"  57'"  year  of  her  Age.  Her  witnesses  were 
y"  D',  his  wife,  and  m'^  Hannah  Mumford.  Said  Abi- 
gail is  wife  of  William  Sherman  in  N :  Kingstown 

Sepf  i"  1752  D'  MacSparran  baptized  a  child  of  M' 
Gilbert  Stewart's  of  Five  months  old,  called,  &  bap- 
tized by  y"  name  of  James;  the  Sureties  were  y"  Doc- 
tor, Capt  Edw''  Cole,  and  m'"  Hannah  MacSparran 

Nov"  7'*  1752  D'  Macsparran  at  y*"  House  of  Col: 
Tho'  Hazard  on  Boston  Neck  married  George  Haz- 
ard, (Son  of  George,  Son  of  old  Thomas  Hazard)  to 
Sarah  Hazard  y"  3''  Daughter  of  said  Col  Hazard 

'Nov''  ig"'  1752  D'  MacSparran  officiated  at  Coeset 
church,  &  married  Morgan  Carravin  a  Taylor,  born 
in  Ireland,  to  Deborah  Cole.  The  [jzV]  Rode  from 
Home  and  returned  at  night. 

Nov"  30"'  1752  St  Andrew's  Day  Dodor  MacSparran 
married  Christopher  Robinson  to  Ruhamah  Champlin 


548  Church  Records  [1752-3 

at  y^  House  of  Col  Christopher  Champlin  Fa'  to  y^ 
Bride  in  Charles  Town 

Decern"  3  \"  1752  D'  MacSparran  officiated  at  his  own 
House,  and  before  divine  Service  began,  married  Wil- 
liam Bentley  to  Rachel  Nichols. 

V  Robert  Hazard  commonly  called  D'  Hazard  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Hazard  Daughter  of  Robert 
Hazard  of  Point  Judith  deceased,  at  the  House  of  her 
mo'  Esther  Hazard  or  Joseph  Hazard's  her  Son  on 
the  3''  Sunday  in  April  1752,  being  y^  19"'  Day  of  said 
month,  by  the  Rev'*  D'  MacSparran 

March  2^'^  17 53  Caesar  Gardiner  an  Adult  negro  be- 
longing to  M'  Jn°  Gardiner  of  Boston  Neck,  was  bap- 
tized by  D' MacSparran;  His  chosen  witnesses  were 
his  Master  &  Mistress  &  y*"  Dodor 

April  14'''  1753  Anna  Berry  wife  of  William  Berry 
Schoolmaster  at  Warwick  was  baptized  on  her  own 
Faith  by  D'  MacSparran  her  Maiden,  or  Family  name 
was  Watson,  her  witnesses  John  Lippet,  Ann  Fran- 
cis and  Mary  Lippet 

Easter  Monday  April  23'^  17 53  Memorandum 
That  I  the  Subscriber  have  hereby  in  open  vestry  im- 
powered  Col  Daniel  Updike,  M' Christopher  Phillips, 
M'  John  Gardiner,  and  M'  Sam'  Albro,  or  any  two  or 
three  of  them  to  let  out  upon  Lease  the  twenty  Acres 
of  Ministerial  Land  belonging  to  y*"  Incumbent  of  the 
Church  of  St  Paul  and  lying  in  South  Kingstown  and 
the  Rents  and  Incomes  thereof  to  apply  dureing  my 
Incumbency  to  y^  Repairs  of  said  church  as  witness 

^  James  MacSparran  Red: 

Samuel  brown    )  r-i        i  ^ 

D     •  Tv/r       c    ji  }  Church  wardens 
Benj  Mumrord  j 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Congregation  on  Easter  Monday 
April  23"^  1753  present  y"  Rev''  D'  MacSparran  the 
following  Persons  were  chosen  viz' 


'  Vestrymen 


1753]  Church  Records  549 

Samuel  Browne  i     i        i  j  ^„ 

T,     .      •     ^/r       r    J  >  church  wardens 

Benjamm  Mumrord 

Coll  Daniel  Updike 

M^  Tho^  Phillips 

M^  Christopher  Phillips 

Cap'  Sam'  Albro 

M^  Jn"  Gardner 

Col:  Tho'  Hazard 

Thomas  Browne  Esq' 

Jn°  Case  Esq' 

M'  Peter  Mumford 

Daniel  Wier  Precentor 

A[t]  the  old  Town  of  Warwick,  at  Mrs  Lippet's  were 
baptized  by  D'  MacSparran  two  children,  viz'  Mary 
Wicks  Daughter  of  Thomas  Wicks  and  Ruth  his 
wife,  and  Ann  Caravin  Daughter  of  Morgan  Caravan 
Taylor  an  Irish  man  May  y'  ig""  1753. 

Ji^Iy  f  10"'  1753  died  M"  Sarah  Phillips  wife  of  M' 
Xtopher  Phillips  daughter  of  Capt  Buck  a  little  be- 
fore 2  in  y''  Afternoon.  She  was  buried  in  St  Paul's 
church  yard  y"  1 2"^  &  her  funeral  Sermon  preachd  by 
D'  MacSparran 

Jug"  lo""!  J ^2  di^d  M' Christopher  Phillips  Husband 
of  y^  abovesaid  Sarah,  abt  2  in  y"  Afternoon  and  was 
buried  in  y*"  Chh  yard  by  his  wife  his  Sermon  was 
preached  by  D'  MacSparran 

Jug"  18'''  at  M''  Lippet's  in  Warwick  was  baptized  a 
child  of  Joseph  Lippet  &  Lucy  his  wife,  named  Sarah, 
by  D'  MacSparran,  who,  with  M'"  Francis  &  Miss 
Mary  Lippet  stood  her  Sponsors 

Jug"  18"'  at  M"  Lippet's  in  old  Warwick  D'  Mac- 
Sparran baptized  an  Infant  y"  child  of  Joseph  &  his 
wife  Lucia  Lippet  by  y''  name  of  Sarah 

S'  Pauls  Narraganset  Jug"  26"'  1753  D'  MacSparran 
baptized  Henry  Mumford  the  child  of  The'  Mum- 


550  Church  Records  [1753-4 

ford  &  Abigail  his  wife  Sureties  Benj"  Mumford  & 
Hannah  Mumford  the  Grand  Parents  and  Peter 
Mumford  y"  Uncle  of  said  child 

Nov'  20"'  1753  Dr  Macsparran  baptized  Mary  Ann 
Berry  at  M''  Lippets  Sureties  Peter  Mumford,  M'' 
Francis  &  Mary  Lippet 

Maroca,  Daughter  of  Maroca  African  the  D'"  Servant 
&  given  to  m'  Benjamin  Mumford  died  y"  1 1'''  of  De- 
cent 1753  &  was  buryed  between  Stepney  &  Rose  two 
negro's  in  y"'  Chhyard  of  S'  Pauls  by  y"  Dod:or  She  was 
10  year  &  two  months  old 

Feb.  26'''  1754  D'  MacSparran  administred  private 
Baptism  to  a  Sick  child  named  James  Browne  Son  of 
John  Browne  a  child  of  abt  3  Months  old 

Feb.  28'''  Said  child  viz'  James  Browne  died. 

Feb  28  1754  D'  MacSparran  intermarried  Benj"  Sand- 
ford  of  Newport  and  Amelia  Bently  Daughter  of 
Sam'  Bentley  of  South  Kingstowne 

March  12"'  1754  D'  Macsparran  administred  Publick 
Baptism  to  Susannah,  Penelope  and  Ruth  Browne 
children  of  M'  Jn"  Browne,  their  Sureties  y"  Grand- 
Fa'  Samuel  Browne  M'^  Hannah  Mumford  &  M'^ 
Susanneh  Bentley 

April  19"'  1754  Easter  Day,  D'  MacSparran  baptized 
James  wier  a  child  of  Dan'  wiers 

Samuel  brown   1  ^,        ,         j 
Tj     •  A/1       r     1  h  L-nurcnwardens 
Benj  MumrordJ 

April  16"'  1754  At  A  meeting  of  the  Congregation 
held  at  the  church  in  Narraganset  called  S'  Pauls, 
present  the  Rev*^  D'  MacSparran,  it  was  unanimously 
voted,  y'  for  y"  year  ensuing,  and  until  others  were 
chosen  in  their  Room,  M'  Jn"  Gardiner,  and  John 
Case  Esq',  should  be,  and  hereby  they  are  voted, 
churchwarden 


1754]  Church  Records  551 

voted  likewise,  that  Such  of  y''  old  Vestry  as  are  alive 
be  continued  this  ensuing  year,  and  M'  Jn°  Browne 
Son  of  Samuel  to  be  added  to  them 
At  Said  Meeting  Voted  y'  the  two  abovesaid  church- 
warden's do  write  to  y''  Society  Setting  forth  to  them 
their  present  State  and  Difficulty,  respefting  y"  20 
Acres  of  ministerial  Land 

April  18'''  1754  D'  MacSparran  baptized  Ann  Stew- 
art Daughter  of  M'  Gilbert  Stewart  &  Elizabeth  his 
wife,  a  child  of  5  mo'  old.  She  being  born  the  1 8""  of 
Nov'  1753  The  Sureties  were  the  Dodor,  his  wife  and 
M^'  Ann  Mumford 

May  %'''  1754  D'  MacSparran  baptized  a  child  named 
Benajah  Gardiner,  whose  Grandfa'Jn"  Gardiner  of  Bos- 
ton Neck  &  his  Grandmo'  in  Law  M'""  Mary  Gardi- 
ner &c  stood  his  Suretys 

At  the  Same  time  was  Baptized  an  Adult  Negro  woman 
named  Phillis  Gardiner  belonging  to  M'"  Abigail 
Ailmy 

May  ye  16'''  1754  D'  MacSparran  baptized  four  Chil- 
dren belonging  to  Thomas  Walmsey  and  Elisabeth 
his  Wife  (Viz)  Thomas,  Daniel,  Benajah,  &  Sarah, 
Walmsey 

The  D'  Being  returned  from  y*"  Sorrowful  and  fatal 
voyage  he  made  to  England  (where  his  wife  died  & 
lies  buried  in  Broadway  chappel  burying  yard  in 
Westm'  She  died  y*"  24'*"  of  June,  a  few  minutes  after 
12  in  y"  morning  and  was  interred  on  y"  Evening 
of  y^  25'''  M'  Graves  viz'  Jn°  preached  her  funeral  Ser" 
&  buried  her.  Brigadeer  Samuel  Waldo,  Christopher 
Kilby  Esq',  M'  Jonathan  Barnard,  all  3  new  England 
men,  and  M'  George  Watmough  an  English  man,  M' 
Jn"Sterling  Merchant  and  D'Winslay  both  Irish  Gen- 
tlemen were  her  Bearers.  The  D'  himself  and  D'  Gar- 
diners  Son  John  were  y"  Mourners,  The  corpse  was 


552  Church  Records  [1754-6 

carried  in  a  Hearse  drawn  by  Six  Horses,  and  two 
Mourning  Coaches  one  for  y"  Some  of  y^  Bearers  and 
y^  other  for  y^  Rest  and  two  mourners.  She  was  y^ 
most  pious  of  all  women,  y"  best  wife  in  y"  world,  and 
died,  as  she  well  deserved  to  be,  much  lamented) 
He  baptized  on  y"  i'^  of  Feb:  1756  at  Col  Updike's 
a  negro  child  of  Prince's  named  Paul 

Feb  3'^  The  D'  married  Jn°  Lippet  of  Warwick  to  Be- 
thia  Rice  Daughter  of  Tho^  Rice  of  said  Town 

April  11"'  1756  being  Palm  Sunday  D'  MacSparran 
read  Prayers,  preached  and  baptized  at  S'  Paul's  Nar- 
raganset  1  Children  one^  named  Gilbert  Stewart  Son 
of  Gilbert  Stewart  y"  Snuff  Grinder  Sureties  y*"  D', 
M^  Benj"  Mumford  &  Mrs  Hannah  Mumford,  y-^ 
other,  Phebe  Wier,  child  of  Daniel  &  Phebe  Wier, 
Sureties  M'^  Hannah  Mumford  y"  Childs  Grandm5 
of  y'  Child  Ann  Mumford  it's  Aunt,  &  Benj"  Mum- 
ford it's  Grandfa'. 

Easter  Monday  April  ig*^  1756  At  a  Meeting  y*"  Con- 
gregation warned  to  meet  at  y*"  D'"  House  on  account 
of  Tempestuousness  of  y"  weather  voted  y'  Jn°  Case 
Esq'  and  M'  Jn°  Gardiner  be  continued  church  war- 
dens &  y'  Such  of  y^  old  Vestry  as  are  alive  be  con- 
tinued and  Major  Ebenezer  Brenton  be  added  to 
them  for  this  year  ensuing 

Sunday  April  25'''  1756  y*"  D'  read  Prayers,  and 
preached  at  S'  Pauls  church,  administred  y*"  Eucha- 
rist to  20  Coicants  whereof  6  partook  for  the  first  time 
here  viz  Maj'  Eb:  Brenton,  M'  Triggs,  M''  Bennet, 
Miss  Ruth  Wanton,  &  two  negro's  viz  Caesar  Gar- 
diner a  negro  man  belonging  to  M'  Jn°  Gardiner  of 
Boston  Neck,  and  Phillis  a  negro  woman  belonging 
to  y"  D''  Mo'  in  Law  Mistress  Ailmy 

Friday  April  30'''  1756  I  rode  to  Warwick 

Saturday  May  y'  i"  1756  The  D'  Read  Prayers  and 


1756]  church  Records  553 

preached  at  M"  Lippets  in  Warwick 

Sunday  May  i^  1756  on  account  of  a  great  Tempest 
of  wind  &  Rain  w'^*'  prevented  going  to  Coeset  church, 
the  D'  at  said  M"  Lippets  read  Prayers,  preached, 
churched  M'  Joseph  Lippets  wife  viz'  M'"  Lucy 
Lippet  and  baptized  her  child  by  name  of  Mary;  the 
Sponsors  were  Capt  Abraham  Francis,  M'^  Ann  Phil- 
lis  Lippet  the  child's  Grandmo'  &  Miss  Mary  Lippet 
y'^  childs  Aunt,  by  y*"  Fa''  Side;  &  administred  y" 
Eucharist  to  M'"  Ann  Francis  a  clinick,  w""  whom 
received  also  her  Husband  &  y"  three  Sponsors  afor- 
said.  She  is  y"  Capt'  wife  The  D'  got  home  y'  night 
much  fatigued 

Saturday  June  y'  12'*  1756  D'  MacSparran  admin- 
istred Baptism,  by  total  Immersion  to  two  young 
women  atWarwick,viz' Elizabeth  Green  Jun',  Daugh- 
ter of  Richard  Green  &  Elizabeth  his  wife,  and  to  Sarah 
Hammet,  Daughter  of  an  Anabaptist  Teacher  their 
Some  time  ago  dead.  He  read  Prayers  &  preached  y" 
Same  Day  at  M''  Lippets  and  baptized  3  children, 
viz' William  Berry,  Son  of  Schoolmaster  Berry,  Eliza- 
beth Wickes,  Daughter  of  Tho'  Wickes,  &  Ruth  his 
wife,  &  Sarah  Carrivan  Daughter  of  Morgan  Carrivan 
a  Taylor 

Sunday  June  13'^  1756  The  D',  it  being  Trinity  Sun- 
day, read  Prayers,  preached  &  administred  y*"  Eucha- 
rist to  a  considerable  Number  of  CoTcants,  whereof  4 
were  new  ones;  viz'  The  widow  of  M'  otis  Litle, 
Nancy  Lippet,  Daughter  of  Jeremiah  Lippet  Esq', 
and  y^abovesaid  Elizabeth  Green  and  Sarah  Hammet. 
The  Congregation  was  large,  wanting  litle  of  200  Peo- 
ple He  also  baptized  y'  Day  at  y*"  church  a  Child 
named  John  Macguire,  Son  of  Schoolmaster  Mac- 
guire  of  Greenwich  new  Town 

On  Whitsunday  June  y'  6'^  1756  Mary  Chappel  re- 
ceived y*"  Eucharist  at  S'  Pauls  for  y^  i"  time.  This 


554  Church  Records  [1756 

should  have  been  recorded  between  y"  Baptism  of 
Mary  Lippet  a  child  as  above,  who  was  baptized  y^ 
I ''  of  May,  and  y*"  Baptisms  of  EHzabeth  Green,  Sarah 
Hammet&c  w"*"  were  performed  June  \i'^  1756 

Sunday  June  27'^  after  dine  Service  was  over  at  S' 
Paul's Narraganset,  and  after  he  had  dined,  y*"  Dr  went 
over  to  Conanicut  to  y''  House  of  Jn°  Martin  Esq', 
and  in  y"  Presense  of  the  Fa'"  &  mo'"  of  the  Bride- 
groom and  Bride,  married  M'  Peter  Mumford  Son 
of  Benj"  to  Abigail  Martin  y"  Second  Daughter  of 
Said  Jn°  Martin  Esq'  Being  extremely  afflidled  with  his 
late  usual  Head,  made  shift  to  return  to  his  Bro'  in 
Law's  M'  Jn"  Gardiner;  But  was  too  ill  to  proceed  as 
he  intended  to  visit  his  mo'  in  Law,  who  is  sick  at  her 
Daughter  Robinson's 

Sunday  July  11'^  last  Sunday  a  Storm  of  wind  &  Rain 
from  y''  SVest  so  y'  nobody  was  at  Chh  tho'  Sacrat 
Day;  Er[go]  :  I  y'  Day  administred  y"  Sacrat  to  18 
CoTcants  whereof  one  viz'  Abigail  Mumford  wife  of 
Tho'  Mumford  was  a  new  Coicant,  and  Ja'  usher  an 
occasional  one 

'Thursday  July  22^  1756  as  I  came  home  from  Pro- 
vidence, I  took  Warwick  in  my  way  &  baptized  by 
Immersion  an  Adult  named  Phebe  Low  alias  Green, 
Daughter  of  Philip  Greene  Esq'  of  Warwick,  &  wife 
of  one  Capt  Low 

O^  16""  1756  being  wrote  to,  &  earnestly  intreated 
to  go  to  Newport  for  y"  Purpose,  I  preached  a  funeral 
Sermon  for  &  on  occasion  of  y*"  Death  of  M"  Eliz'' 
Cole  widow  &  Relid  of  y"  late  Elisha  Cole  Esq'  who 
died  many  years  ago  in  London,  &  buried  her  in  y" 
Burying  Ground  at  Newport.  She  was  a  good  woman 
and  a  particular  friend  of  me  y"  Subscriber,  &  she,  her 
Husband  &  Family  were  baptized  by  me  Ja'  Mac- 
Sparran 


1756-7]         church  Records  555 

D'  MacSparran  not  being  able  after  M''  Cole's  Fune- 
ral to  get  farther  ynConanicut  Said[jzV]  at  y"  House  of 
Jn°  Martin  Esq'  &  preached  at  his  House  y'  next 
Day  being  Sunday  y"  17"'  Off'  1756. 

Dr  Edward  Ellis  was  married  to  Abigail  his  wife,  by 
D'  MacSparran  on  y^  18"'  Day  of  Off  1756.  She  was 
Daughter  of  M'  Job  otis  of  Scituate  in  y"  Province 
of  y''  Massachusets  and  had  for  her  first  Husband 
one  M'  Hallyburton  who  died  in  Jaimaca  where  they 
lived  a  while. 

Feb  2.0"'  1757  Emblo  a  negro  girl  belonging  to  D' 
MacSparran  was  delivered  of  two  children,  the  one 
dead  y"  other  alive  on  Friday  y  11  Day  of  July  1757 
the  living  child  was  this  Day  baptized  by  y"  Dr  by 
the  name  of  Lucy  her  Sureties  were  M'^  Mary  Gar- 
diner &  her  Daughter  Abigail  and  negro  Caesar 

March  13"'  1757  the  D'  Baptized  John  Bentley  Son 
of  Will"  Bentley  Sadler,  y'  Sureties  were  M'=  Bennet, 
Daniel  Wier  &  y'^  D^ 

Easter  Day  April  id^  ^^ SI  ^'  MacSparran  present  y*" 
Congregation  voted  that  y^  Cch  warden  &  vestry  of 
y*"  last  year  be  continued  thro'  y*"  year  ensuing  &  ad- 
journed y^  vestry  to  y^  23''  of  May 

Mayf  8'"  1757  at  y"  Chh  of  St  Paul  Narraganset  D' 
Macsparran  baptized  a  child  of  Sam'  Mumford's, 
named  Elizabeth,  y^  Suretys  Benj"  &  Ann  Mumford 
y"  grandfa'  &  Grandmo'  &  Miss  Ann  Mumford  y" 
Aunt  of  y^  child.  10  Coicants  to  Day  exclusive  of  y" 
Dr 

May  23"^  1757  y^  Vestry  Met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment, &  voted  a  subscription  to  help  w'"  Mumford 
whose  House  was  burned  on  y''  first  Wednesday  of 
May  &c. 

Sepfic^'*"  1757  Dr  Macsparran  baptized  a  Child  named 
Sarah  Phillips  y"  Daughter  of  Mary  Phillips  widow 


556  Church  Records  [1757-8 

of  Xtopher  Phillips  deceased.  Sureties  M'  Benj° 
Mumford  his  wife  Hannah,  and  y^  widow,  Mary 
updike. 

Oaoher  \f  1757  at  M^'  Lippets  in  Warwick  D'  Mac- 
sparran  Baptized  a  child  called  Thomas  Berry 

051'  23'^  1757  at  St  Pauls  Narraganset  D'  Macspar- 
ran  baptized  two  children,  one  James  chappel,  natu- 
ral son  of  Mary  Chappel  Jun'  deceased;  the  other 
virtue  Davis  Daughter  of  William  Davis,  the  Surtys 
William  Davis  &  Daniel  wier,  M'"  Davis  williams 
wife  and  M'"  Phebe  wier. 

On  ye  5'''  [i"]  day  of  December  a.d.  1757  y*"  Reverend 
Dodor  James  Macsparran  died  at  his  House  in  South 
Kingstown  who  was  Minister  of  Saint  Paules  Church 
in  y"  Narragansett  for  y*-"  Space  of  Thirty  Seven  Years 
and  was  decently  I  nterred  under  y"  Communion  Table 
in  Said  Church  on  y''  Sixth  day  of  Said  Moth  \jic\  Much 
Lamented  by  his  Parishioners  and  all  whom  he  had 
Acquaintance  with;  A  Sermon  being  Preached  by  y^ 
Revered  M'  Pollin  of  New-port  from  these  words 
Taken  out  ofy''i4"'  Chapter  of  y"  Revelations  at  part 
of  y*"  13'^  verse  And  I  heard  a  Voice  from  Heaven  say- 
ing unto  me  Write,  Blessed  are  y^  dead  Which  dye  in 
y"  Lord,  y''  Reverend  M'  Usher  of  Bristol  performed 
y*"  office  at  y^  funerall  where  there  was  a  very  Great 
Number  presen'  y^  Paul  Bearers 

The  Reverends 
There  was  M'  Pollin  &      r  -vr 

Rings  mourning  M'  Lemming  ^ 

weeds  &  Gloves  M'  Matthew  Graves  of  New  Lon*^. 
Gave  to  y^  M'  John  Graves  of  Providence 

Paul  Bearers  Ebenezar  Brenton  \^     rs 

and  John  Case  Churchwardens   J       ^ 

On  y*"  11^  day  of  January  AD  1758  The  Reverend  M' 
Jeremiah  Lemming  of  Newport  Preached  at  Saint 
Pauls  Church  and  after  Service  was  Ended  y*"  Con- 


1758-60]        Church  Records  557 

gregation  was  requested  to  Stay  to  Consult  about 
Sending  to  y^  Honourable  ye  Society  Requesting  that 
they  may  Send  us  a  Missionary  and  to  continue  their 
Bounty  to  Said  Parish. 

\_Here  follow  five  letters,  which^  with  brief  conne5ling 
notes^  are  inserted  in  the  body  of  this  work,  at  the  close 
of  the  first  volume  and  the  beginning  of  the  second,  and 
are  not,  therefore,  repeated  here.'\ 

Anno  Domini  1760 

On  the  Twenty  fourth  of  August  1760  being  Sunday 
Mr  Fayerweather  for  the  first  Time  Officiated  To  his 
New  Flock  Which  Was  Very  Small  In  the  Parish 
Church  of  St  Pauls  Narraganset:  And  On  the  Suc- 
ceeding Sunday.  Than  Proceeded  to  the  Place  of  his 
Nativity  Boston  Where  He  Preach'd  In  all  the 
Episcopal  Churches  there  Beginning  first  at  Kings 
Chappel,  than  At  Trinity,  And  at  The  Revd  Dodor 
Cutlers  Call'd  Christ's  Church. 
At  This  Jun6lure  Arrived  At  Narraganset  One  Mr 
James  McSparran  Nephew  To  the  Late  Incumbent, 
and  one  of  the  heirs  To  Dodlor  MacSparrans  Estate 
Who  Was  Treated  With  On  the  Purchase  of  his  half 
of  the  Dodor's  Farm,  The  Whole  of  Which  Was  Ori- 
ginally Designd  and  BequestedTo  A  Right  Rever- 
end Diocesan  In  Case  One  of  that  Holy  &  Ever  To 
be  Revered  order  Should  Come  To  America  Provided 
He  Came  To  the  Plantations  Of  North  America 
Within  the  Term  Of  Seven  Years  After  the  Demise 
Of  Said  Dodor's  Wife ;  And  if  Otherwise,  That  Than 
The  Said  Farm  Should  Go,  the  one  half  to  the  Above 
Said  Nephew  James  MacSparran,  And  the  other  half, 
To  Dodor  Sylvester  Gardner  Of  Boston  The  Late 
Dodor  McSparran's  Brother  In  Law. 
Under  the  Incumbrance  Of  A  Bishop's  Coming  into 
America  A  Few  Spirited  Gentlemen  Of  Charader  & 
Interest  Of  the  Church  Of  St  Pauls  Narraganset, 


558  Church  Records  [1760 

Through  Considerable  Struggle  &  Opposition  Under- 
took the  Purchase  Of  the  One  half  of  the  Aforemen- 
tioned James  McSparran  Of  White  Clay  Creek  In 
Pensylvania  Government  for  A  Glebe  Perpecual  To 
the  Use  of  the  Present  &  all  Succeeding  Ministers 
of  the  aforesaid  Church  of  England  for  Ever. 
This  first  Purchase  Was  Made  for  one  hundred  & 
Fifty  Pounds  Sterling.  —  And  After  Some  Length  of 
Time  The  Second  Purchase  as  to  the  other  half  of 
Said  Farm  (to  be  Annexed  Or  joynd  to  the  first  and 
both  together  to  make  one  Glebe  Perpetual  for  the 
Benefit  of  the  aforesaid  Church  Ministers  for  Ever) 
Was  Made  Of  Dodlor  Sylvester  Gardner  of  Boston 
Aforesaid  for  as  Much  More  So  that  the  Whole  Pur- 
chase Was  Compleated  for  Three  hundred  Pounds 
Sterling;  Immediately  Upon  Which  Dodor  Gardner 
To  his  Honour  Be  it  here  Recorded  Gave  Out  of 
his  Respedive  part  or  Sum  Of  One  hundred  &  fifty 
Pounds  Sterling,  One  Hundred  Dollars  to  help 
forward  the  Whole  Purchase,  Or  Rather  To  Ease  or 
Lesson  the  Cost  &  Expence  thereof  To  the  Parish 
ofSt  Pauls.  And  PreviousTothe  Completion  Of  This, 
An  A61  of  the  General  Assembly  Of  the  Colony  Was 
Found  Necessary,  And  Obtaind,  though  With  oppo- 
sition and  Difficulty,  For  the  Transferring  of  the  Pro- 
perty of  Another  Glebe  Given  for  the  Use  of  the 
Church  In  North  Kingstown  By  One  Mr  Norton  A 
Taylor  In  Newport,  Which  Was  Sold  for  One  hun- 
dred Pound  Sterling,  And  the  Money  for  Which  it 
Was  Sold,  Went  towards  the  Paying  So  Much  in  the 
Specie  or  Sterling  Money  Of  Great  Brittain  As  to  the 
New  Purchase  of  Do6lor  M'Sparran's  Farm,  And  So 
Might  properly  be  Said,  As  to  its  Inhaerent  or  Essen- 
tial Property  viz  The  Value  &  Amount  of  it.  To  be 
properly  Transferred  &c 

The  Principal  Purchasers  As  to  the  first  half  of  the 
Aforementiond  Farm  Were  John  Case  Esq,  Francis 


1760]  church  Records  559 

Willet  Esq,  Thomas  Browne  Esq,  Captain  John 
Browne  Esq  of  Newport,  &  Mathew  Robinson  Esq: 
and  In  Conjundion  With  These,  Lodowick  Updike 
&  Colonel  Thomas  Hazard  Esq'  Gave  Each  of  them 
Twenty  Dollars  a  Peice.  As  to  the  Last  half  of  the 
Purchase  Of  the  Farm  As  a  Glebe  Perpetual,  The 
Three  first  Mentiond  Case^  /Fi//d'/,&  Thomas  Browne 
Esqrs  Who  Each  of  them  Gave  Most  Liberally  & 
Generously  And  Whose  Names  Are  Again  Repeated 
to  their  honour  as  They  Signalized  Themselves  both 
as  To  the  Two  Distln6t  Purchases  of  Said  Farm,  That 
in  the  Whole,  Their  Particular  Donations  Did  Not 
Amount  To  Less  than  Two  hundred  andThlrty  Dol- 
lars A  Man.  Since  Which  Regular  Deeds  have  been 
Made  Of  Said  Farm  As  a  Glebe  or  Parsonage  for  the 
advantage  &  Behoovement  Of  the  Present  &  all  Suc- 
ceedlng  Ministers  Of  St  Pauls  Church  Narraganset 
Time  Immemorial,  Recorded,  Publish'd,  &  Duely 
Signed,  And  Copies  Thereof  Authentically  Trans- 
mitted (By  The  Venerable  Society's  Missionary)  To 
England  To  The  Society,  In  Whose  Service  He  is, 
And  his  Successors  Must  be,  For  the  Propagation 
OF  THE  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts. 

On  the  Fifth  of  05ioher  Mr  Fayerweather  Preach'd  at 
the  Town  of  Warwick  And  Baptized  a  child  by  the 
Mode  Of  Sprinkling  An  Infant  Daughter  Of  Joseph 
Lippet  Esq  &  Lucy  his  Wife  By  the  Name  (of 
Betsy — And  after  Preaching  Two  Sermons,  He  Ad- 
ministred  the  holy  Ordinance  of  Baptism  by  Immer- 
sion To  A  Young  Lady  of  About  Five  or  Six  & 
Twenty  Years  Old,  One  of  Colonel's  Loe's  Daugh- 
ters By  the  Name  Of  Mary  In  the  Presenceof  A  Pro- 
digious Number  Of  Spectators  Who  All  Behav'd 
With  the  Greatest  Seriousness  And  Solemnity.  And 
As  This  Was  the  First  Time  of  his  Adminlstring  (by 
the  form  of  Dipping)  So  Sacred  An  Ordinance,  He 
Was  the  More  Attentive  to  the  Service,  And  at  the 


56o  Church  Records  [1760 

Same  Time  More  full  Of  Admiration  At  the  Peo- 
ple's Decent  Condud:  &  Reverend  Behaviour. 

October  The  12'"  Mr  F— Preachd  To  his  Little  Flock 
In  St  Pauls  Naraganset,  And  Then  Proceeded  to 
Newport  &  Assisted  The  Rev"*  Mr  Brown  both  In 
Preaching  &  Administring  the  Sacrament  of  the 
Lords  Supper  On  Advent  Sunday  to  Near  Two  hun- 
dred Communicants. 

O^loher  the  id^'  At  A  Meeting  of  the  Parishoners  of 
St  Pauls  Church  In  Narraganset  Voted  That  John 
Case  &  Thomas  Browne  be  Church  Wardens  for  the 
Remaining  part  of  this  Year. 
Voted  That  Messieurs  Viz 

Samuel  Browne 

John  Gardner 

Mathew  Robinson 

John  Browne 

Lodowicke  Updike 

Thomas  Hazard 
& 

Benjamin  Mumford 
VotedThat  The  Pews  In  the  Church  be  Taxed ;^5: 
Old  Tenour  Each  A  Year  for  And  Toward  the  Re- 
pairing The  Church  Of  Saint  Pauls. 
Voted,  That  Mr  John  Browne  procure  the  Windows 
Of  the  Church  To  be  Mended  forthwith. 
Voted,  That  Mathew  Robinson  Esq  have  The  Pew 
that  late  Belong'd  To  Captain  Benoni  Sweet  De- 
ceased, And  Cap*  Benjamin  Jefferson  have  the  Pew 
lately  Belonging  to  Mr  Charles  Dickinson  Junior. 

In  the  Beginning  Of  December  Mr  F— had  the  Mis- 
fortune To  Sprain  his  Ancle  &  Dislocate  Several 
Small  Bones,  which  Confin'd  him  Some  While  Under 
the  Dodlors  hands.  And  by  a  Cutaneous  humour  fall- 
ing Down  the  Legg  to  the  particular  part  Affeded, 
He  Endured  Great  Pain  And  Was  Prevented  Some 


be  Vestry  Men 
for  the  Remaining 
Part  of 
This 
Year. 


1760-1]         church  Records  561 

Sundays  from  Officiating  in  holy  Things. 

December  25'''  being  Christmas  Day  Mr  F — Preach'd 
&  administred  the  Holy  Eucharist:  After  Which  He 
Was  very  ill  Again  As  to  his  legg  And  the  Whole 
System  Of  Blood,  by  An  Increase  Of  A  Scrophulous 
humour  Contracted  In  a  Southern  Unwholesome 
Clime,  Which  Renderd  it  Necessary  To  Go  through 
A  Regular  Course  of  Regimen  &  Physick. 

Anno  Domini  1761. 

March  the  5'''  M'  Fayerweather  Married  Mr  Carder 
Hazard  To  Miss  Allice  Hazard  Daughter  of  Colonel 
Thomas  Hazard  Esq  Of  South  Kingstown  At  Mr 
Benjamin  Mumford's  house  Where  He  then  Boarded. 

On  The  Sixth  Of  April  Mr  George  Mumford  Was 
Married  By  Mr  F — To  Miss  Mary  Dickinson  In 
Saint  Pauls  Church  Narraganset,  The  Bride  being 
Given  Away  By  Mr  James  Bentley  An  Intimate  Ac- 
quaintance Of  The  Bride  Grooms. 

On  the  30''' jD^jy  Of  April  Mr  Fayerweather  Mov'd 
into  And  Took  Adiual  Possession  Of  the  Parsonage 
house.  Once  the  Private  Property  &  Real  Estate  Of 
his  Proedecessor  The  Rev''  D'  M'^Sparran. 

On  Easter  Monday  Parish  Officers  Were  Chosen  In 
St  Pauls  And  They  Were  As  Follows. 
Viz  Churchwardens 

Thomas  Browne 

&  [-  Esquires 

John  Case 
And  As  To  Vestry  Men 

Captain  John  Browne 

Mathew  Robinson 

Major  Ebenezer  Brenton 

Lodowick  Updike 

John  Gardiner 

Benjamin  Mumford  Senior 


562 


Church  Records 


[1761 


On    Whitsunday    May    the    10"'   A   Discourse   Was 

Preachd  by  Mr  F — On  the  Day  of  Pentecost,  And 

The  Sacrament  Of  The  Lord's  Supper  Was  admin- 

istred  To  the  Following  Persons 

As  the  Very  First  Time  Of  his  administring  On  such 

An  Occasion 

Viz,  Captain  John  Browne 

M'  Benjamin  Mumford 

Samuel  Browne 

Mr  Triggs 

Mrs  Mumford 

Mrs  Anstis  Robinson 

Miss  Molly  Browne 

M^=  Ann  Dickinson 

Mary  Chaffield 

Mrs  Gardner  Wife  Of  J  Gardner 

Coesar  Gardner  1 

&  >  Servants 

Phillis  Gardner  J 

May  17"  M^  F— Was  Calld  Away  to  Warwick  & 
Preachd  there  to  A  large  Number  Of  Souls;  &  Ad- 
ministred  the  Eucharist  to  About  Fourteen  Members 
Male  &  Female. 

June  14'^  Preachd  To  a  large  Assembly  In  St  Pauls 
Narraganset  And  Baptized  Martin  Reid  The  Parish 
Clerk  An  Adult  And  According  to  the  Usual  Method 
Of  the  Christian  Church  his  Chosen  Witnesses  Were 

Major  Ebenezer  Brenton 
& 

Mr  Benjamin  Mumford 

And  On  the  Same  Day  Baptized  his  Daughter  By  the 
Name  of  Hannah,  And  her  Sponsors  Were  Old  Mr 
Mumford,  his  Wife  Mrs  Mumford  And  Mrs  Ann 
Dickinson:  —  All  Behaving  With  the  Utmost  De- 
cency &  Gravity,  The  Young  Man  Above  Men- 
tiond,  Father  To  the  Little  Girl,  being  Previously 


1761]  church  Records  563 

Instrudled  into  the  Nature  of  the  Institution  And  the 
Solemnity  Of  the  Ordinance  According  to  the  Canons 
Of  the  Church  of  England  And  What  the  Rubrick 
Enjoyn.  May  the  Number  Of  Baptized  Increase 
Among  those  that  Are  Adult  in  Age!  And  As  to  In- 
fants May  They  all  be  ofFerd  Up  to  God  in  Infancy 
Because  Of  Such  the  Kingdom  of  heaven  doth  Con- 
sist: But  This  Will  Depend  Greatly  on  Parents  be- 
ing properly  Grounded  themselves  In  the  Christian 
Religion. 

June  28"  ^  July  f  Mr  F  Went  to  Newport  With  A 
Design  to  take  a  Passage  for  New  York  In  Capt 
Leighton  &  being  Detain'd  by  Contrary  Winds 
Preachd  both  Sundays  for  the  Revd  Mr  Browne. 
July  f^  Saild  for  New  York  And  on  the  ii"'  Preachd 
In  the  City  In  Trinity  Church  for  the  President  of 
the  Episcopal  College  The  Rev''  Dodtor  Samuel  John- 
son &c.  From  New  York  Mr  F —  proceeded  To 
Philadelphia  And  Preachd  In  the  Churches  for  The 
Revd  Dr  Jenny  And  The  Revd  Mr  Duchie  On  the 
19'^  ^  16"'  of  July.  On  the  i'^  Day  of  August  Got  back 
As  far  As  New  York  Again  And  Preachd  For  The 
Rev'd  Do6tor  Barclay  And  The  Reverend  M'  Auch- 
muty.  August  9'^  Mr  F  Preach'd  In  Mr  Aspinwals 
Church  In  Flushing  Long  Island.  The  16'''  On  A 
Sacramental  Occasion  In  St  George's  Chappel  New 
York,  &  in  the  Afternoon  of  Said  Day  At  Trinity 
Church  for  The  Revd  Mr  AuchmutyTo  Avery  large 
&  Respedable  Congregation. 

On  the  21''  Embark'd  &  Saild  through  part  of  the 
Sound,  And  On  the  Passage  had  the  Misfortune  to  be 
Cast  A  Way  In  Hell  Gate,  &  being  Detaind  by  a  hard 
North  East  Storm  Went  Ashoare  At  Pell's  Manor, 
And  it  Was  the  30""  of  the  Month  before  He  Ar- 
riv'd  Safe  at  Newport,  Which  He  Blessed  God  The 
Almighty  his  Great  Preserver  for. 


564  Church  Records  [1761-2 

September  6'^  My¥ — Preach'd  to  his  Own  Little  Flock, 
(Who  seem'd  pleasd  With  his  Return  home !  O  May 
He  Do  much  Good  Among  them,  And  Always  Meet 
With  the  Divine  Philanthropy  &  Protedion. 

September  ig*^  Mr  F  Preachd  At  Warwick  &  Bap- 
tized 3  Children  One  A  Boy  of  four  Years  old,  The 
other  An  Infant  Girl,  the  Children  Of  Poor  Parents. 

On  the  First  Sunday  Of  November  1 76 1  Mr  F —  Bap- 
tized A  Son  of  Mr  Lodowick  Updike  By  the  Name 
of  Daniel  AtEight  Months  Old,  The  Sponsors  Were 
Mr  Benjamin  Mumford,  his  Wife,  And  Mr  Thomas 
Mumford  Son  of  Benjamin  In  Saint  Pauls  Church. 

On  the  10"'  Of  November  MrF — Was  Calld  Away 
to  Newport  To  Administer  Private  Baptism  To  a 
Child  of  Benjamin  Mumford's  Junior,  The  Child 
being  Sick,  It's  Name  Was  Samuel,  The  Sponsors 
Were  Mr  F — Samuel  Mumford  And  the  Grand 
Mother  M"  Mumford  Senior. 

The  2,7'^  MrF  being  Earnestly  Requested  Preachd 
A  Sermon  in  Old  Mrs  Amys  Room  She  having  been 
Confin'd  by  Sickness  A  long  time,  To  A  Consider- 
able and  Attentive  Audience. 

The  30th  Mr  F —  Set  Out  for  Boston.  Preachd  at 
Kings  Chappel  Dec''  2'^.  His  Excellency  Gov'  Barnard 
Present.  At  Warwick  on  his  Return  He  Preachd  At 
Mrss  Frances's  &  administred  the  Sacrament  to 
Eleven  Persons.  And  On  Christmas  Day  He  Preachd 
to  his  Own  Flock  &  administred  The  Communion. 

Anno  Domini  1762 

Mr  F  Preachd  At  St  Pauls  A  Discourse  On  the  New 
Year.  But  Alass!  Few!  Very  Few  Hearers  on  that  Day. 
Mr  F —  Publishd  the  Banns  of  Marriage  Between  Mr 
Robert  Jenkins  &  Miss  Elizabeth  Champlin  Daugh- 
ter To  Colonel  Christopher  Champlin  As  the  First 
time  of  Asking.  The  Second  Sunday  As  the  i'^  Time 


1762]  Church  Records  565 

And  the  3d  Sunday  As  the  Last  time  of  Asking. 

On  the  17'"  of  Jan'  Mr  F  Publishd  Capt  Thomas 
Green  &  Miss  Mary  Low  As  the  First  time.  On  the 
25'''  being  St  Pauls  Conversion  Mr  F —  publish'd  A 
Second  time  the  Banns  of  Marriage  Between  Capt 
Tho^  Green  Of  Warwick  &  Miss  Mary  Low  of  the 
Same  Town,  Publishd  them  Also  A  third  time  As  the 
Law  Direds:  And  On  the  iV"  Of  January  He  being 
Soon  Bound  to  Sea,  Proceeded  to  Warwick  And  Mar- 
ried Them.  Mr  F  Preachd  A  Sermon  On  the  Joyful 
Occasion  At  Mr  Weeks'  house.  N  B.  The  Couple 
Were  Married  At  Colonel  Loes  house  On  Thursday 
Evening  Jan'  28'^  1762. 

February  the  2^  Mr  F  Went  to  Charlestown  And  Mar- 
ried Robert  Jenkins  To  Miss  Elizabeth  Champlin 
Daughter  to  Colonel  Christopher  Champlin !  She  The 
Bride,  being  Given  Away  by  her  Father. 

Easter  Sunday  Preachd  To  A  large  Congregation  & 
administred  the  Sacrament.  And  On  Easter  Monday 
Chose  Parish  Officers  Viz  Church  Wardens  John  Case 
&  Thomas  Browne  Esqs  Who  Serv'd  Acceptably  the 
Year  before  in  Said  Office,  And  Vestry  Men  As  fol- 
low viz  Mathew  Robinson 

Major  Brenton 

Benjamin  Mumford 

John  Browne 

Benjamin  Jefferson 
& 

John  Gardner 

May  1^  being  the  third  Sunday  In  Easter  Mr  F  Preachd 
Not  only  In  his  Own  Parish  Church  of  St  Pauls,  But 
in  the  afternoon  Of  Said  Day  In  the  Baptist  Meeting 
house  On  little  Rest  hill.  To  Some  of  his  own  flock 
living  in  that  Quarter  As  Well  as  To  A  Promiscous 
Number  besides  Of  Sedaries,  Differently  Denomi- 
nated. 


566  Church  Records  [1762 

On  May  16"'  Mr  F  Was  Sent  for  To  administer  Cly- 
nick  Baptism  To  a  Child  of  Mr  Thomas  Mumfords 
Dangerously  ill  With  Fits,  With  Proper  Sponsors,  The 
Childs  Name  Was  James,  After  Which  The  child 
Died  On  Which  Occasion  A  Sermon  Was  Preachd 
in  St  Pauls  to  about  Forty  Souls. 

May  30'''  being  Whitsunday  An  Adult  Offered  himself 
To  Christian  Baptism  Who  had  been  Bred  In  the 
Annabaptistical  Way  hypothetically  As  the  Church  & 
Canons  Diredl  By  the  Name  of  Benjamin  (Who  Com- 
monly Went  by  the  Name  of  Ben  Sherman)  Whose 
Chosen  Witnesses  Were  Mr  Benjamin  Mumford 
Senior,  Martin  Reed,  and  Mrs  Mumford,  and  after 
Previous  Instruction  Mr  F  administred  the  Ordinance 
of  Baptism  to  him  And  Then  Admitted  him  to  the 
Other  ordinance  of  the  Lords  Supper. 

June  2'^  Mr  F  visited  Boston  &  Preachd  in  the  Sev- 
eral Churches  there  to  full  Audiences  And  Assisted  in 
the  administration  of  the  Sacrament.  On  his  Return 
Preachd  At  Warwick:  Mr  F  also  Baptized  there  A 
Male  Child  for  one  Mr  Caravan,  the  Child  having 
proper  Sponsors  June  23"^. 

July  4'^  It  having  for  a  long  time  been  Dry  Wheather, 
The  Land  being  afflided  With  the  Judgment  of 
Drought  Mr  F  Improvd  such  a  Providence  from 
those  Words,  ^^And  he  Frayed  Again  ^  the  heaven 
gave  Rain  And  the  Earth  brought  forth  fruit" 

July  8'^'  Mr.  F  Baptized  by  Immersion  Dehverance 
Sherman  In  Petaqumscutt  Pound  Pond  her  Wit- 
nesses being  Mr  Mumford  Senior,  Mrs  Davis,  and 
Martin  Reed,  after  She  Came  To  the  Communion. 

On  the  \f'  of  July  Mr  F  Christned  A  Child  for  Mr 
Benjamin  Sherman  At  his  house  Privately,  Deliver- 
ance Sherman,  The  Father  &  Mr  Reed  Sponsors, The 
Child  Named  James.  On  this  Day  in  the  afternoon 


1762]  church  Records  567 

Mr  F  Preach'd  In  the  Baptist  Meeting  house  to  A 
large  Congregation,  &  Performd  the  Liturgy  of  the 
Church  of  England. 

July  27"'  Mr  F— Was  Sent  for  To  See  An  old  Man 
Dying  One  in  full  Communion  With  his  Church, 
Who  Died  On  the  28"  And  Was  Buried  the  29"' on 
Which  Occasion  A  Sermon  Was  Preachd.  At  the  said 
Deceasd'  house. 

On  the  p'''  Day  Of  September  Mr  F  administred  Bap- 
tism To  An  Adult  Female  In  Petaqumscutt  Pond 
by  Immersion  Mrs  Jefferson  By  the  Name  of  Sarah, 
Soon  After  Which  She  Ratified  her  Covenant  En- 
gagements At  the  Sacred  Altar.  Her  Chosen  Wit- 
nesses Were  her  Husband  Capt  Benjamin  Jefferson 
A  Communicant  of  St  Pauls,  Mrs  Mumford  &  Mrs 
Dickinson. 

On  the  26'''  The  Congregation  At  St  Pauls,  The  Lar- 
gest that  had  Convened,  From  his,  Mr  Fs  first  Open- 
ing his  Mission  At  Narraganset:  Above  An  hundred 
Souls  Present: 

05loher  f  Mr  F  Was  Sent  for  In  the  Dead  Of  Night 
&  An  Exceeding  hard  Rain  To  Visit  One  Danger- 
ously [/'//],  and  at  his  Request  He  Baptized  him  By 
the  Name  of  Jeremiah  (Commonly  before  called  Je- 
remy Smith.)  And  Mr  F  Gave  him  afterwards  The 
Blessed  Sacrament.  This  Person  Was  Bred  to  No  Re- 
ligion—  And  With  Sorrow  be  it  Spoken  Since  his 
Solemn  Dedication  To  God  the  Father  Son  &  holy 
Ghost,  He  has  praftically  Renounced  the  Christian 
Religion,  and  Now  makes  no  Profession  At  All. 

O^ober  the  5""  Mr  F  Baptized  In  St  Pauls  Church  A 
DaughterOf  Mr  William  Bentley  Sadler  About  Eight 
Years  old  by  the  Name  of  Sarah  She  having  her 
Proper  Sponsors. 

18'"  Was  Observ'd  As  A  Day  of  Publick  Thanks- 


568  Church  Records  [1762-3 

giving  through  the  Colony.  The  Congregation  Up- 
wards of  An  hundred  Souls.  On  Which  Day  Was  De- 
cently Interrd  In  the  Church  Yard  Miss  Molly  Gard- 
ner The  Daughter  of  John  Gardner  Esq  Boston  Neck 
Who  Died  Of  a  Consumption  at  the  Age  of  17  or 
18.  Her  Corps  being  Carried  into  Church.  On  the 
Same  Day  Mr'  Bovyer  Was  Church'd. 

Nov'  5'''  Gun  Powder  Plot  Was  Observd  &  a  Ser- 
mon At  St  Pauls. 

Sunday  December  5'^  Mr  F.  Baptized  A  Negroe  Man 
Servant  of  John  Gardners  Esq  By  the  Name  of 
PoMPEY  his  Chosen  Witnesses  Were  Martin  Reed, 
Mrs  Mumford  &  Caesar  Gardner  (Said  Pompey  Died 
July  5^*'  1768)  And  Buried  in  a  christian  manner.) 

December  25'''  being  Christmas  Mr  F  Preachd  &  ad- 
ministred  the  Sacrament  As  Usual  on  Said  Day  And 
On  Said  Memorable  Occasion. 

Anno  Domini  1763 

January  i"  Circumcision.  The  Wheather  Exceedingly 
Bad  And  No  Congregation  Assembled  at  St  Pauls. 

15'''  Mr  F  Was  Calld  On  to  Visit  Old  Mrs  Amy  A 
Communicant  of  St  Pauls  being  Now  Dangerously 
ill.  Divers  times  he  had  visited  and  Pray'd  With  her: 
And  Besides  Administred  the  holy  Eucharist,  Several 
Persons  Communicating  With  her  At  the  Same  Oc- 
casion. Dureing  her  Whole  Illness  She  Express'd  An 
Intire  Resignation  to  Gods  holy  Will  &  pleasure,  And 
Thro' Gods  help  It  Was  hop'd  She  Made  a  Good  End. 

23'^  Publishd  the  Banns  Of  Marriage  Between  George 
Hasard  Peckham  of  South  Kingstown  &  Sarah  Tayler 
Daughter  of  Robert  Tayler  In  Newport  Deceas'd, 
And  After  A  Regular  Publication  three  Distind:  times 
According  to  Law  They  Were  Married  In  Newport. 

T'/2^3o"'Was  Observ'd  As  Usual  by  A  Sermon  On  the 


1763]  church  Records  569 

Occasion,  But  So  few  Auditors,  That  it  is  a  Sufficient 
Discouragement  from  Preparing  A  Sermon  or  Preach- 
ing it  on  Such  Days. 

7'''  February  being  Advertiz'd  of  the  Death,  &  Day  of 
Interment  of  Old  Mrs  Amy,  &  Requested  to  Preach 
A  Funeral  Sermon,  Mr  F —  Preach'd  One  on  the  8'^ 
of  the  Month  In  St  Pauls  from  the  Revelation  of  St 
John  the  Divine  the  14"'  Chapr  at  the  13'''  Verse  The 
Corpe  being  Carried  into  Church  And  the  Number 
present  Were  Sixty  People  Who  Behav'd  Gravely  & 
Solemnly. 

On  the  13'''  Of  the  Month  Sunday,  Mr  F —  Was  Pub- 
lishd  To  Mrs  Abigail  Hours  The  Surviving  Relidl 
of  the  Revd  Peter  Hours  of  Marblehead  In  Trinity 
Church  Newport  Hy  the  Revd  Mr  Browne  And  on 
Jlsh  Wednesday  being  the  16'''  Publishd  the  Second 
time  And  Sunday  Feb^  10"'  Was  the  third  &  Last  time 
of  Asking. 

Sunday  The  i^j'^  February  Mr  F  Was  Married  To 
Mrs  Hours  In  the  Church  At  Newport  Early  in  the 
Morning  About  8  o  Clock  By  the  Reverend  Marma- 
duke  Browne;  And  that  Day  (An  Exceedingly  Cold 
Day)  Preachd  On  the  Occasion  from  those  Words 
To  A  large  Auditory  Do  All  to  the  Glory  of  God.  As- 
sisted the  Revd  Mr  Browne  the  Next  Sunday  Also, 
having  Got  his  Own  Pulpit  Supply'd  By  The  Revd 
Mr  Dormer  Of  South  Carolina  In  his  Passing  along 
through  the  Continent  From  South  Carolina. 

On  Good  Friday  Mr  F  Preachd  In  Newport  for  the 
Revd  Mr  Browne  &  Assisted  him  in  the  Adminis- 
tration Of  the  Lords  Supper. 

On  Easter  Sunday  April  the  3'^  Preachd  In  St  Pauls 
Narraganset  And  Administred  the  Sacrament  To  Six- 
teen Souls. 

On  this  Day  After  Divine  Service  Was  over  (from  the 


570  Church  Records  [1763-4 

GreatDifficulty  Of  Convening  the  People  together  On 
Easter  Monday)  The  Parish  Officers  both  as  to  Church 
Wardens  &  Vestry  Men  Were  voted  To  be  Continued 
this  Year  Without  Alteration.  April  the  4"^  Mr  W" 
Davis  And  Family  Mov'd  Away  from  the  Parsonage 
house  Where  They  had  Livd  With  Mr  F —  for  Two 
Years  in  Great  Unanimity  &  Peace. 

May  16"'  Mr  F  bought  A  Servant  of  J  Gardner  Esq: 
May  She  Prove  A  True  &  Faithfull  Servant  of  Jesus 
X.  (Who  Died  April  11"^  1770). 

July  17"'  Mr  F.  Baptized  A  Male  Child  In  St  Pauls 
of  William  Bentleys  By  the  Name  of  Agrippa,  The 
Sponsors  Mr  Mumford  Mrs  Mumford  &  Mr  Reed. 

July  the  I  %'^  Mr  F —  Married  Captain  John  Northam 
(Who  Brought  him  from  Charlestown  South  Caro- 
lina) To  Miss  Toman  of  Newport. 

6"^/)ri8"'Mr  F  Preachd  In  the  Baptist  Meeting  house 
to  a  large  Auditory  On  little  Rest  hill  &  Carried  on 
the  Service  of  the  Church  of  England,  And  Several 
of  their  Teachers  (No  less  than  four)  being  Present 
in  the  Whole  Service. 

05loher  the  t6"'  Mr  F  Baptizd  A  Female  Child  Of 
Martin  Reeds  By  the  Name  of  Ann  her  Sponsors  were 
Captain  Jefferson,  Mrs  Jefferson,  and  Mrs  Webber. 

November  19'''  Born  Robert  Browne  A  Male  Child 
And  the  First  born  Son  of  Captain  Robert  Browne. 
Christned  In  Newport  Church  By  the  Revd  Mr 
Browne  Redor  of  Trinity  Church  Nov  30"'  1763. 

December  2,5"'  Mr  F  Preachd  In  St  Pauls  before  a 
large  Promiscuous  Number,  and  administred  the  Sac- 
rament to  fourteen  Communicants. 

Anno  Domini  1764 

Mr  F —  Preachd  on  the  Occasion  of  the  New  Tear  to 
Fifty  Souls, 


1764]  Church  Records  571 

Feb'  16'^  Mr  F  Journeyd  to  Marblehead,  Preachd  In 
St  Michaels  Church,  and  Christned  A  Child  for  the 
Reverend  Mr  Weeks  At  the  Font  there. 

On  Easter  Sunday  Mr  F  officiated  in  his  own  Church 
&  administred  the  Sacrament  to  Eleven  Souls. — After 
Publick  Worship  Was  Ended  Chose  Parish  officers 
being  Under  an  Indispensable  Necessity  of  it,  be- 
cause Of  the  Impossibility  of  Convening  the  Parish 
On  Easter  Monday  As  the  Business  of  Agriculture, 
Especially  Plowing  &  planting  at  Said  time  Engross'd 
their  Closest  Attention  &  Care  viz  Church  Wardens 
&  Vestry  Men  for  the  present  Year  One  thousand 
Seven  hundred  &  Sixty  four. — The  Church  Wardens 
Were  viz  Captain  Benjamin  Jefferson 
& 

Mr  Stephen  Bovyre 
The  Vestry  Men  Were 

John  Case 

Thomas  Browne 

Benj"  Mumford  Senior 

Mr  William  Bentley 

Samuel  Gardner 
& 

Captain  Francis  Carpenter. 

May  23''  Mr  F  Went  To  Marblehead,  Preachd  In  St 
Michaels  Church  And  Baptized  Three  Children  By 
The  Desire  of  their  Pastor,  Whose  Names  Were  En- 
tred  into  their  Church  Records. 

June  3"^  Mr  F  Preachd  In  Newbury  Church  for  the 
Revd  Mr  Bass  to  a  Small  Audience,  He  officiating  in 
Almsbury  Church. 

10'''  Mr  F  Preachd  in  Salem  Church  On  Occasion  of 
WhitSunday  and  Assisted  The  Revd  Mr  Mcgilchrist 
In  the  administration  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 

On  the  14"'  of  June  Sott  out  for  Marblehead  for  home 


572  Church  Records  [1764-5 

— Arrivd  safe  In  the  Parish  of  St  Pauls.  Preachd  there 
on  the  ij""  Day  of  the  Month  To  a  Small  Congregation. 

July  1764  Mr  F  Calld  Away  to  Newport  To  Marry 
Mr  Benjamin  Brenton  To  Miss  Cook  Daughter  of 
Captain  Silas  Cook  The  Revd  Mr  Browne  being  Sick 
And  not  able  to  Attend  the  Office  for  the  Bride  And 
Bride  Groom. 

August  6'^  A  Negroe  Child  Born  (Csesar)  In  Mr 
F — s  house  of  Tamar  &  George  his  Servants. 

Nov"  f  Mr  F  Officiated  In  St  Pauls.  But  Discouragd 
from  the  Smallness  of  his  Congregation  On  the  like 
Publick  Occasions,  altho'  they  had  Previous  Notice 
of  the  Design  the  Sunday  before. 

The  Sunday  following  Mr  F  Preachd  On  the  Death 
of  his  Wife's  Sister  Bourn  from  those  Words  The 
Memory  of  the  Just  is  Blessed.  —  M. 

December  i^"'  was  Duely  Observed  by  Mr  F  in  St 
Pauls  Church. 

Anno  Domini  1765 

On  the  New  Tear  A  Sermon  Was  Preachd  By  Mr 
F —  to  his  Own  Flock  &c. 

January  3''  Mr  F  Married  Captain  John  Watson  To 
Phoebe  Martin  at  her  Gran:  Father  Esq  Martins  On 
Conanicutt  In  the  Presence  of  Many  Witnesses  And 
Preachd  A  Sermon  On  the  happy  Occasion  from 
Those  Words  '■'■Love  One  Another ^ 

Jan^  5'''  Mr  F  &  Spouse  Sent  for  to  Newport  to  At- 
tend Capt  John  Brownes  Funeral,  He  Read  Prayers 
on  the  Day  of  Interment,  and  Preachd  A  Funeral 
Sermon  in  Trinity  Church  On  the  Occasion  Sunday 
After. 

February  17"'  Mr  F  Preachd  At  Newport  &  Baptized 
three  Children  One  of  Governour  Wantons,  and  all 
with  their  Proper  Sponsors. 


1765]  Church  Records  573 

March  5'''  Mr  F  Married  Captain  Isaac  Prince  God- 
frey To  Penelopy  Pelham  Cowley,  At  Mr  John  Ban- 
nisters At  Middletown  On  Rhode  Island. 

March  15"'  Mr  F  Went  to  Captain  Robert  Brownes 
On  a  Letter  from  him  And  Baptized  A  Son  of  his  By 
the  Name  of  John:  Capt  Browne,  Mr  F —  Stand- 
ing Male  Sponsors,  &  Mrs  F  Female  Gossip.  (The 
Child  Born  On  the  lo""  January  1765). 

March  18"'  Mr  F  Visited  the  house  of  Mourning 
George  Hazard's  Which  Was  made  so  By  the  Death 
of  his  Wife  Who  Was  the  Daughter  of  Colonel 
Thomas  Hazard  One  of  the  Church  Under  his  Pas- 
toral Care. 

19'^  Attended  her  Funeral  Where  Several  Of  The 
Friends  Calld  so  by  Way  of  Distinftion  Spoke. 

On  Easter  Mr  F  Preachd  On  the  Occasion  &  ad- 
ministred  As  Usual  the  Holy  Eucharist. 

On  Easter  Monday  No  alteration  Of  Parish  Officers 
The  Old  Ones  Remaining  As  they  Were:  So  that 
there  Was  No  Attempts  for  A  New  Choice. 

On  Whitsunday  Mr  F  Preachd  In  St  Pauls  On  the 
Unpardonable  Sin  Against  the  holy  Ghost.  And  in  the 
Evening  After  A  Previous  Publication  According  to 
Law  He  Married  Mr  Barnaby  Brennock  A  Foreigner 
To  Miss  Esther  Davis  Daughter  Of  Samuel  Davis  At 
French  Town  being  the  26"'  of  May ,  The  Bride  being 
Given  Away  By  old  Mr  Mumford. 

September — The  Two  Last  Sundays  in  this  Month  The 
Revd  Mr  Bass  Of  Newbury  Preach'd  In  St.  Pauls 
Narraganset  for  Mr  F. 

Nov  5'''  No  Sermon  On  the  Occasion  from  the  Afore- 
going Discouragements  Mentiond  By  Mr  F. 

Soon  After  This  Date,  Finding  A  Necessity  To  Re- 
pair St  Pauls  Church  The  Church  Wardens  Viz  Mr 


574  Church  Records         [1765-6 

Bovyre  &  Jefferson  Were  Adlive  to  Colled  Subscrip- 
tions for  the  Purpose  And  Accordingly  Nov  1 5'''  The 
Church  Was  Repaired  And  the  Windows  Mended 
Whereever  they  Wanted  to  be  Made  Whole.  On  this 
Occasion  &  for  this  Purpose  Thomas  Browne  and 
John  Case  Esq'  Gave  Very  Liberally. 

Nov"  1%""  Was  Observd  As  A  General  Thanksgiving 
throughout  the  Colony  Of  Rhode  Island  &  Mr  F 
Preachd  on  the  Occasion  Accordingly. 

December  Mr  F  Married  At  Do6lor  Babcocks  Capt 
Dudley  Salftonstall  To  his  Daughter  Miss  Francis 
Babcock  At  Westerley  And  Was  Considerably  Indis- 
posd  by  A  very  bad  &  Dangerous  Cold  Which  Con- 
find  him  (On  his  Return)  to  his  Bed  &  Chamber 
Above  Six  Weeks. 

Anno  Domini  1766 

First  Day  of  Jan-  Circumcision.  But  No  Preaching  At 

St.  Pauls. 

On  Easter  Sunday  Mr  F  preachd  to  A  Considerable 
Congregation,  &  administred  the  Sacrament  to  Seven- 
teen Communicants. 

On  Easter  Monday  Parish  Officers  Were  Voted  to  be 
Continued  for  this  Year  Without  Any  Alteration  As 
before  viz  Church  Wardens 

Capt  Benj"  Jefferson 

Stephen  Bovyre 
Vestry  Men  The  Same  viz 

John  Case 

Thomas  Browne 

Benj"  Mumford 

W"  Bentley 

Samuel  Gardner 

Capt  F.  Carpenter 

April  i"  Major  Benjamin  Brenton  Died  And  Three 
Days  After  (Which  Was  the  4"  of  April)  Buried  On 


1766]  church  Records  575 

his  own  Farm:  The  Burial  Service  Performed  By  Mr 

F —  At  the  Majors  Desire  Who  in  his  Sickness  Was 

Visited  by  Mr  F  And  Prayed  With. 

6"'  Mr  F  Christned  A  Male  Child  for  Capt  Robert 

Browne  at  his  house  By  the  Name  Of  Silas  With 

the  proper  Sponsors  (The  Child  Born  January  28''' 

1766.) 

May  the  First.  Mr  F  Baptized  An  Adult  Person  In 
St  Pauls  Who  had  been  One  of  the  People  of  the 
Annabaptist  Perswasion  (&  before  that  of  Several 
other  Denominations)  By  the  Name  o{  Jonathan^ )\o 
had  Commonly  Gone  by  the  Name  of  Jonathan  Sher- 
man; His  Chosen  Witnesses  Were  Mr  Reed,  old  Mr 
Mumford,  &  Capt  Jefferson,  his  Baptism  Was  Hy- 
pothetical!. After  Which  He  Seald  his  Engagements 
at  the  Sacred  Altar;  And  For  Five  Years  Attended 
both  the  Worship  And  Ordinances  of  the  Church 
Constantly!  But  Alafs!  has  Now  Publickly  Re- 
nounced his  Profession,  And  Turned  Again  To  the 
Annabaptists,  And  been  Adually  Redipped  By  One 
of  their  Illiterate  Teachers  lately  in  North  Kingstown 
—  O  Tempora:  O  Mores. 

May  14"'  1766.  Mr  F  Baptized  This  Day  A  Negroe 
Boy  Namd  Bristow  Son  of  his  Man  Servants  George 
&Tamar  Who  Was  Born  in  his  house  May  11}^  1766. 
Mrs  Gardner,  Mr  F  &  Mr  Mumford  Sponsors. 

June  4.'^  Mr  F  Attended  the  Convention  of  the  Epis- 
copal Clergy  And  The  Revd  Dodior  Caner  Preach'd 
in  Kings  Chappel  Boston  from  those  Words  '■'■Follow 
Me"  Sunday  After  Mr  F  Preachd  for  the  Dodor 
&  Baptized  A  Child  in  Kings  Chappel  Which  Was 
Registred  in  their  Church  Book. 

July  &''  Were  Married  in  Church  Robert  Dickson  & 
Martha  Straight  by  Mr  F — r 

O^ober  19"'  Mr  F  Married  Mr  Benjamin  Naason  To 


576  Church  Records  [1766-7 

Miss  Sarah  Jefferson  at  Capt  Jeffersons  house  Who 
had  been  Publish'd  Three  Distind:  Times  In  Church 
According  to  the  Colony  Law.  The  Bride  being  Giv- 
ing [sic']  in  Marriage  By  the  Father. 

November  2*^  Mr  F  Preachd  In  Christs  Church  Cam- 
bridge And  two  Sundays  Succeeding,  And  the  Third 
At  Christ  Church  Boston  for  the  Revd  Mr  Greaton. 

December  25'''  Preachd  In  St  Pauls  On  the  Occasion 
of  Christmas  to  A  Small  Congregation  &  administred 
the  Sacrament  to  a  few. 

On  St  Innocents  Day  Mr  F  Preachd  In  St  Pauls  to 
a  few  being  Moderate  Wheather  from  those  Words, 

^^  then  herod  When  he  Saw  that  he  was  Mocked  of  the 
Wise  Men  Was  Exceeding  Wroth  &  Sent  forth  ^  Slew 
all  the  Children  that  Were  in  Bethlehem  <y  in  all  the 
Coasts  thereof  from  1  Years  old  ^  Under  According  to  the 
time  Which  he  had  Diligently  Enquirdofthe  Wise  Men." 

Anno  Domini  1767 

No  Sermon  On  the  New  Tears  Day. 

But  The  First  Sunday  After  (By  A  long  Trial  for  A 
Congregation  In  St  Pauls  Church  During  the  Win- 
ter Sollstice,  Of  Almost  Seven  Years)  Mr  F  was  obligd 
to  officiate  in  his  own  house  Calld  the  Parsonage,  & 
So  at  other  houses  In  his  Parish  In  An  Alternate 
Way,  Which  He  found  Was  better  Attended  on  than 
in  the  Church  of  St  Pauls  that  Difficult  Season  of  the 
Year.  &c. 

On  the  \\^^  of  Jan^  Mr  F —  at  his  own  house  Bap- 
tized C«sar  A  Negroe  Boy,  The  Eldest  Son  of  his 
Man  George  &  Tamar  With  proper  Sponsors.  It  be- 
ing x}[iQ  first  Sunday  After  Epiphany. 

On  the  9''' (which  shoud[^/V]have  been  Mentiond  be- 
fore the  last  Article  of  baptism)  Mr  F  Was  Sent  for  To 
Attend  the  Funeral  of  M''  Browne,  The  Consort  of 


1767-8]         church  Records  577 

the  Revd  Mr  Browne  Over  Whom  He  Performd  the 
Funeral  Service  In  Trinity  Church  Newport.  An  Ex- 
ceedingly large  Concourse  of  People  Attended  But 
No  Sermon  As  both  the  Lady  her  Self  &  her  husband 
too  had  An  utter  Aversion  To  Pomp  &  Show  on  those 
Occasions,  &  Utterly  Against  All  Parading. 

March  lof  Mr  F  Christned  his  Servant  Man  George 
before  a  large  Congregation  At  his  house,  &  his  Chosen 
Witnesses  Were  old  Mr  Mumford  Mrs  Mumford  & 
his  Master. 

Easter — No  Alteration  this  Year  As  To  Church  War- 
dens &  Vestry  Men. 

April  f  Mr  F  Christned  A  Female  Child  In  St 
Pauls  Church  of  his  Clerk's  Martin  Reed,  By  the 
Name  of  Sarah,  Capt  Jeiferson,  his  Wife,  And  Mrs 
Fayerweather  Standing  Sponsors. 

'June.  The  'Two  Last  Sundays  Succeeding  In  this 
Month  The  Revd  Mr  Lyons  &  Mr  F — Exchangd; 
He  Preachd  In  St  Pauls;  Mr  F  in  the  Church  Of 
Taunton  in  the  Province  Of  Massachusetts  &c. 

Sunday  November  5'''  This  Day  Mr  F  Baptized  A 
Male  Child  Of  Thomas  Gardner  &  Katherine  his 
Wife  By  the  Name  of  henry  Richmond  Gardner — 
The  Sponsors  Were  Master  Kelly  Mr  F,  &  Miss 
Jerufhy  Blowers. 

Anno  Domini  1768. 

Jan^  i"  Circumcision  Mr  F — Preachd,  &  Exhorted 
his  People  To  Begin  the  New  Year  in  the  Service  of 
God  their  Creator  &  Redeemer,  &  hold  on  to  their 
Live's  End. 

Jan^  7"'  Mr  F  Married  Captain  Sylvester  Gardner  of 
North  Kingstown  To  Miss  Sarah  Beers  Of  Newport, 
At  Captain  Joseph  Coggeshall's,  The  Bride  being 
Given  Away  by  Capt  Coggeshell. 


578  Church  Records  [1768 

March  6"'  It  being  xh^  first  Sunday  in  the  Month  Mr 
F  Preachd  at  Mr  Bovyre's  and  Christned  A  child 
By  the  Name  Of  Robert  Lowe  After  A  Brother  in 
Law  In  old  England  of  Mr.  Bovyres;  Capt  Jeffer- 
son his  Wife  And  Mr  Bovyres  Son  Standing  Spon- 
sors.— After  Divine  Service  Visited  &  Prayed  With 
William  Davis  Son  of  William  Davis  Dangerously  ill 
Who  Soon  After  Died. 

March  13'^  And  Fourth  Sunday  In  Lent  Mr  F  Christ- 
ned A  Male  Child  At  Capt  Jeffersons  house  By  the 
Name  Of  Benjamin  Jefferson  Naason,  Son  of  Mr 
Naason  Who  Married  Capt  Jeffersons  Daughter; 
The  Sponsors  Were  Stephen  Bovyre  his  Wife,  And 
the  Gran  Father  Captain  Jefferson  himself. 

March  11"  Mr  F  Preachd  A  Funeral  Sermon  On 
W"  Davis^  Death  In  Church  To  A  full  &  Serious 
Audience.  27'^  Mr  F  Officiated  At  home. 

On  the3''y^/'W/ Mr  F  preachd  on  Easter  a.t  Mr  Philips' 
—  On  Monday  No  change  of  Church  officers. 

April  10"'  Mr  F  Preachd  At  Lodowick  Updikes  & 
Baptized  Three  Children  for  him  By  the  Names  of 
James,  Anstis,  &  Mary,  The  Sponsors  Capt  Jeffer- 
son, Mrs  Jeffisrson,  &  Mrs  Gardner  The  Gran  Mo- 
ther: Having  Christned  their  Eldest  Son  before, 
Daniel,  At  Eight  Months  old. 

April  17'^  Mr  F  Preachd  At  the  Parsonage  house  & 
Baptized  his  Own  Negroe  Wench  Tamar,  And  her 
Child  Phillis, The  Mother  had  her  Chosen  Witnesses; 
The  Other  Sponsors  viz  Mr  Reed,  Mrs  F,  &  Mrs 
Gardner. 

April  the  24"'  Mr  F  Preachd  At  Mr  W"  Davis^  And 
Baptized  A  little  Negroe  Boy  two  Years  old  By  the 
name  of  Cato,  his  Sponsors  Were  Mr  Bovyre  old 
Mr  Mumford  &  Mrs  Davis — And  Immediately 
After  Divine  Service  Mr  F  —  Proceeded  for  home. 


1768]  church  Records  579 

And  Went  on  With  all  Speed  from  Thence  To  Point 
Judith  And  Married  George  Browne  To  Miss  Han- 
nah Robinson  At  her  Father  William  Robinsons  In 
Presence  of  Many. 

May  the  First  Mr  F —  Preachd  in  St  Pauls  Church; 
To  A  full  Audience. 

On  JVhitsunday  Mr  F  Administred  the  Sacrament  of 
the  Lords  Supper  In  St  Pauls  To  Sixteen  Communi- 
cants After  Preaching  To  About  50  or  60  hearers. 

On  the  24'''  Mr  F  Sot  off  for  Boston  &  Marblehead. 
And  On  Sunday  Morning  May  the  29"'  Mr  F  Mar- 
ried At  Marblehead  before  Church  Began  Colonel 
William  Bourn  To  Mrs  Deborah  Freeman  The  Sur- 
viveing  RelidtOf  Mrjames  Freeman  Merchant:  The 
Lady  being  Given  Away  by  Major  Gallison  Brother 
in  Law  By  Marriage  to  the  Bridegroom. 

July  the  3''  Mr  F  Baptized  in  his  Own  Church  at 
Narraganset  An  Infant  Child  of  his  Clerk's  Mr  Reed 
by  the  Name  of  Mary;  Mr  Bovyre  his  Wife  &  Mrs 
Davis  Sponsors,  The  Whole  Congregation  tarried  in 
the  Church  of  St  Pauls  to  See  the  administration  of 
the  Ordinance.  (43 

On  the  16"'  Saturday  Night  Died  Mr  Henry  Gardner 
(Son  of  henry  in  Newport)  One  of  the  Parish  Of  St 
Pauls,  Who  had  been  in  Mr  F — s  service.  And  the 
said  Mr  Gardner  Was  Buried  In  his  Own  Ground 
Without  Ceremony  And  having  Only  five  or  Six  Men 
Attending  his  Funeral  by  Reason  of  the  Malignancy 
of  the  Distemper  &  Fever  Whereof  He  Died. 

August  8"  Mr  F  Baptized  A  Female  Child  At  Cap- 
tain Robert  Browne's  house  Of  Said  Robert's  &  Wife 
Sick,  The  Father,  Mother,  &  M''  Gidley  being  Spon- 
sors The  Child  Nam'd  Elizabeth. 

On  the  21^'  Mr  F  Preachd  In  St  Pauls,  And  in  the 
Afternoon  of  Said  Sunday  At  little  Rest  In  the  An- 


58o  Church  Records  [1768-9 

nabaptist  Meeting  house,  &  Carried  on  All  the  Pub- 
lick  Exercises  According  to  the  Method  pradlic'd  in 
the  Church  of  England,  After  Which  In  the  Evening 
Mr  F  Married  Capt  BenedidlPeckhamTo  Miss  Mary 
Boon  In  North  Kingstown,  He  having  been  Out  pub- 
lishd  According  As  the  Law  Dire6ts. 

On  the  23^^  Mr  F  Married  Mr  Slocums  Daughter  To 
Mr  Henry  Wall  Who  had  been  Publish'd  3  Didind 
times  by  Esq  Thomas  As  the  Law  Direds. 

October  the  i"  Mr  F  being  In  Newport  And  The 
Minister  Confind  to  his  house  By  Bodily  Illness,  he 
Was  Requested  To  Christen  A  Child  of  Captain  John 
Watson's  And  Phoebe  his  Wife  By  the  Nameof  M  ary, 
The  Sponsors  Were  Mr  Simson  Attorney  at  Law, 
his  Wife  &  Mrs  Dickson. 

December  25"'  Mr  F  Preachd  In  St  Pauls  On  Christ- 
mas Day  to  About  Forty  Souls  And  administred  the 
holy  Communion  to  Twelve. 

Anno  Domini  1769  being  Circumcision  Mr  F  Enter- 
taind  his  Flock  With  A  Discourse  Agreeable  To  the 
Occasion  in  St  Pauls. 

February  \"  Mr  F  began  to  Preach  in  his  Own  Man- 
sion house  on  Account  of  the  Imprafticableness  of 
attending  at  St  Pauls  The  Wheather  being  So  Severe, 
And  From  Which  Time  He  officiated  at  his  own  & 
other  houses  of  his  Parishoners  till  Easter. 

On  the  9'*  of  March  Mr  F  Married  Mr  Niles  Helme 
To  Miss  Sarah  Bent  At  his  house  After  having  Pub- 
lish'd them  as  the  Law  directs  3  Distind:  times:  The 
Bride  being  Given  Away  By  Mr  Reed  the  Clerk  of 
Saint  Pauls. 

Easter  No  Change  of  Parish  Officers,  from  a  General 
Approbation  of  Them  that  had  been  in  the  last  Year 
As  to  Wardens  andVestry  Men  And  the  Difficulty  of 
Colleding  the  People  Together  On  Easter  Monday. 


1769]  church  Records  581 

Second  Sunday  Past  Easter  Mr  F  being  before  Desired 
to  Compose  a  Discourse  On  Singing,  Prepar'd  And 
Preach'd  One  To  A  Number  of  Young  People  Who 
Were  Learning  Psalmody. 

16"'  April  Mr  F  visited  Old  Mrs  Willet  Who  Was 
taken  111  With  An  Apoplexy ;  Mr  F  prayed  With  her 
Soon  after  Which  She  Died. 

1 8'^  On  T^uesday  she  Was  Buried,  And  A  Funeral  Ser- 
mon Preach'd  by  Mr  F  after  her  Interment  At  the 
Esquires  House. 

28'''  July ;  On  Friday  Evening  Mr  Fayerweather  Mar- 
ried his  Brother  In  Law  George  Hazard  Esq  To  Miss 
Jane  Tweedy  at  the  Parsonage  house  Narraganset 
After  3  Distind  Publications  In  the  Church  of  New- 
port. Married  Benedict  Peckham  To  Mary  Boon 
Daughter  to  J  &  Mary  Boon  of  N  Kingston  Au- 
gust 21"  1769. 

On  the  10"'  Sepr  Preachd  In  St  Pauls,  his  honour  The 
Governour  of  the  Colony  being  At  Church,  And  A 
Considerable  Large  Congregation. 

On  the  11"'  of  A  Monday  Morning  Mr  F  Sott  off  for 
Boston  To  Attend  the  Annual  Convocation  of  the 
Clergy.  The  Revd  MrThompson  Of  Scituate  Preachd 
before  Us  In  Kings  Chappel  On  the  Moral  Perfec- 
tions of  God.  Mr  F  Preachd  Sunday  after  at  Kings 
Chappel  And  at  Trinity  Church  Boston. 

On  the  I  f'  Mr  F  &  Mr  Clark  of  Dedham  Exchangd. 
And  the  Succeeding  Sunday  brought  about  A  Second 
Exchange  Between  Mr  F  &  the  Revd  Doftor  Byles 
—  The  Do6lor  Preachd  In  Mr  Clarks  Pulpit  of  Ded- 
ham, And  Mr  F  In  Christ's  Church  Boston:  So  that 
by  Such  An  Exchange  Double  Mr  Clarke  Supplyd 
Narraganset  Church  i  Sundays  together. 

Novr  26"'  Mr  F  Exchangd  Pulpits  With  the  Revd 
Mr  Bisset  of  Newport. 


582  Church  Records        [1769-70 

Deer  25'''  Mr  F  Preachd  To  a  Small  Congregation  & 
adminlstred  the  holy  Eucharist  In  St  Pauls. 

On  the  31"  Exchangd  Again  With  Mr  Bisset  &  Mr 
F  Preachd  in  Newport.  On  the  Fast  Day  of  the  Year 
1769.  And  on  the  Beginning  of  the  New. 

Anno  Domini  1770 

January  the  i"  it  being  Circumcision  Mr  F  Read 
Prayers  to  the  Largest  Congregation  He  Ever  Saw 
on  a  Prayer  Day  at  Newport.  And  on  this  Day  Mr 
F  Baptized  a  young  Gentleman  In  adult  Years  Mr 
Scott  By  the  name  of  Joseph,  and  his  Chosen  Wit- 
nesses Were  Mr  William  Wanton  And  Mr  Simon 
Peas  Merchants. 

On  the  11'''  of  February  Mr  F  Attended  the  Funeral 
of  Mr  John  Scotts  Lady  in  Newport  Who  Was  In- 
terr'd  on  Sunday  About  4  °  Clock  In  the  Afternoon  at 
Whose  Grave  Mr  F  officiated,  The  Revd  Mr  Bisset 
being  Gone  to  Boston.  N  B.  The  Deceas'd  Lady 
Was  the  Daughter  of  Capt  Cookson. 

March ^'^  Mr  F  Preachd  at  a  Neighbours  house  &  the 
Gov'  Present 

11"'  of  March  Mr  F  Baptized  at  his  own  house  a  Ne- 
groe  Child  By  the  Name  of  Thankfull:  A  Daugh- 
ter of  Man  George  &  Wench  Tamar.  The  Sponsors 
Were  Mrs  F  Mrs  Gardner  &  Mr  F. 

April  the  1 1"'  The  Said  Tamar  Died;  And  on  the  ii'" 
of  the  Month  Was  Buried.  A  Christian  Burial  She 
had  in  her  old  Master's  Ground  (I  Gardner  Esq) 
alongside  of  her  own  Mother  &  some  fellow  Serv's 
and  before  the  Corps  Were  Mov'd  from  the  Parson- 
age A  Short  Funeral  Sermon  Was  Preachd  by  Mr 
F  at  his  house.  And  Prayers  Perform'd  at  the  Grave. 

Easter — The  Same  Wardens  &  Vestry  Men  of  St 
Pauls  Are  Continued  for  this  Year. 


lyyo]  Church  Records  583 

Sunday  May  if  Mr  F  Baptized  A  Male  Child  for 
Mrs  Katherine  Gardner  (Wife  of  Thomas  Gardner) 
She  Belonging  to  St  Pauls,  (He  of  the  People  calld 
Friends)  By  the  Name  of  Samuel  Fayerweather: 
The  Sponsors  Mr  F,  Master  Kelly  and  Mrs  Dick- 
son Widow. 

On  Friday  Night  Between  Five  &  Six  "  Clock  July  6''' 
1770  Mr  F — r  was  sent  for  to  visit  John  Gardner, 
with  whom  he  talk'd  and  Prayed. 

7""  on  Saturday  Died  John  Gardner  Esq  of  Boston 
Neck,  And  on  Sunday  8"'  the  Next  Day  Was  Decently 
Buried  In  the  Church  Yard  of  St  Pauls,  On  Which 
Occasion  The  Corps  Was  Carried  I  nto  St  Pauls  Church 
And  a  Funeral  Sermon  Preachd  There  By  Mr  F  The 
Redor  To  a  Full  and  Serious  Congregation. 

29"'  July  Sunday  Evening  Departed  this  Life  John 
Case  Esq  at  Tower  Hill  And  on  Tuesday  July  31"  He 
Was  Decently  Interrd  In  St  Pauls  Church  Yard 
North  Kingstown  And  A  Funeral  Sermon  Preachd 
By  Mr  F  on  the  Occasion  In  St  Pauls  Church  be- 
fore a  Numerous  And  Attentive  Audience.  Mr  F 
Constantly  visited  Said  Esq  Every  Day  for  Some 
Considerable  time  together  And  Prayed  With  him 
And  adminis[tered]  the  Blessed  Sacrament  To  him 
Two  or  Three  times  Distinctly. 

September  16"'  Mr  F  Preachd  In  St  Pauls,  And  Af- 
ter Church  He  Was  Earnestly  Desired  To  Go  To 
Mr  William  Davis  s  Which  He  Did,  And  Baptize 
Three  Children  By  The  Names  of  Charles,  Chester, 
and  Charlotta,  And  at  the  Request  of  George  Rome 
Esqr  A  Gentleman  of  Estate  from  Old  England  &c 
The  Sponsors  Were  Mr  Bovyre  Mrs  Bovyre  &  Mr 
Davis:  After  Which  Next  Day  being  the  17"'  of  Sep- 
tember Mr  F  Sott  off  for  Boston  To  Attend  The  An- 
nual Convention  of  the  Clergy,  And  Preachd  there 
In  the  Several  Churches  &c.  The  Revd  Mr  Trout- 


584  church  Records         [1770-1 

beck  Kings  Chaplin  Preachd  before  the  Clergy  On 
Said  Occasion  from  that  Text  "What  is  Trulh." 

Nov''  11'''  The  Reverend  Mr  Usher  of  Bristol  Preachd 
&  Read  Prayers  for  Mr  F  In  St  Pauls  Narraganset, 
He  being  a  Hearer. 

On  the  10'^  December  1770  Mr  F  Married  Captain 
Nathan  Bull  of  Newport  To  Anna  Perry  of  South 
Kingstown  Kings  County  being  Legally  Published 
Three  Distin6t  Periods. 

Anno  Domini  1771 

January  the  First  Mr  F  Gave  his  Flock  a  New  Years 
Sermon. 

On  the  11*''  of  February  Doftor  Robert  Hazard  Was 
Buried,  Having  Died  by  a  Long  Lingering  Illness 
Saturday  Evening  about  6  °  Clock  The  Ninth  Day  of 
the  Month.  A  Considerable  Assembly  Present  At  his 
house,  and  a  Funeral  Sermon  Preachd  by  Mr  F — 
from  a  Subjedl  Suitable  to  the  Occasion. 

17'''  Mr  F  Preach'd  on  this  Sunday  at  Mr  Ray  Sands 
formerly  Esq  Case's  house 

Sunday  24'''  Mr  F  Preachd  at  the  house  of  mourning 
The  Late  Dodlor  Hazards  On  Mortality.  A  large 
Congregation  Present.  The  Hon'''^  James  Honeyman 
Present  Who  Came  from  little  Rest  Where  the  Court 
had  been  Sitting  the  Whole  Week. 

Sunday  March  1 6"'  [i  7"']  Mr  F  Preach'd  at  Mr  George 
Brownes  to  about  40  Souls.  On  Thursday  the  ai"'  of 
March  Mr  F  being  Invited  by  a  Letter  from  the 
Church  Wardens  of  Trinity  Church  Newport,  He  at- 
tended as  a  Paul  Bearer  The  Funeral  of  the  Revd  Mar- 
maduke  Browne  Pastor  of  Said  Church  Where  a  Ser- 
mon Was  Preachd  By  The  Revd  Mr  Bisset  Colleague 
To  a  very  Numerous  And  Weeping  Congregation. 

Sunday  March  31"  being  Easter  Sunday  Mr  F  Preachd 


lyyi]  Church  Records  585 

At  Capt  Benj"  JefFersons  house  on  the  Resurredlion 
of  Christ  To  About  Sixty  Souls  After  Which  on  Said 
Day  before  the  Whole  Congregation  MrFayerweather 
Baptized  A  Male  Childof  Mr  Benjamin  Naasons,  Son 
in  Lawto  CaptJefFersonBythe  Name  of  Elisha:  The 
Gossips  being  Mr  Bovyre  and  Mrs  Jefferson  and 
The  Gran  Father. 

April  the  i"  It  being  Easter  Monday,  The  Day  On 
Which  Parish  Officers  Are  Chosen.  Mr  Fayerweather 
having  Given  Previous  Notice,  of  Said  Meeting,  And 
the  Design  Thereof — On  Said  Day  A  Number  had 
Conven'd  Although  Small  &c  Church  Wardens  and 
Vestry  Men  Were  Chosen  and  They  Were  as  Fol- 
low, viz 

Church  Wardens 

John  Gardner  )  of  SK 

Peter  Phillips  j  of  NK 

The  Vestry  Men  for  the  Present  Year  Were 

Lodowick  Updike  "^ 

Mathew  Robinson 
Capt  Robert  Browne 

Benjamin  Gardner 

Thomas  Browne 

William  Davis 
N  B  Sylvester  Gardner 

Stephen  Bovyre,  William  Cole,  &  Captain  Jefferson 
Who  Were  Present  Were  Nominated  But  Declin'd 
—  So  that  the  Seven  Above  Mentiond  Persons  Are 
Entred  On  this  Record  As  the  Proper  &  Only  Ves- 
try Men  for  the  Year  1771  Till  Next  Easter  Mon- 
day When  Another  Choice  Of  Course  Comes  On; — 
Attested  by  Jn°  Gardiner  Warden  of  St  Pauls  Church 
As  likewise  By  Samuel  Fayerweather  Reftor  &c. 

AtThisTimeAndOn  this  Day  of  Easter  Monday  We 
Should  have  Consulted,  And  Determined  About 
Building  A  New  Church  Or  RepairingSaint  Pauls,  But 


586  Church  Records  [1771 

The  Members  Of  the  Congregation  living  in  South 
Kingstown  In  General  Not  being  Present  It  Was 
thought  proper  And  Mutually  Agreed  Upon  to  Ad- 
journ the  Matter.  Accordingly  We  Unanimously 
Agreed  to  adjourn  till  this  Day  Fortnight,  Which 
Brings  it  to  the  fifteenth  Day  of  April:  On  Which 
Time  it  Was  Referred  To  the  Minister  Mr  F — 
And  John  Gardner  A  Warden  To  Ask  Mr  Whailey  A 
Carpenter  to  Meet  With  Us  in  Order  To  Give  his 
Opinion  &  Judgment  Relating  to  the  Old  Church  of 
St  Pauls  As  to  its  being  Worth  Repairing  or  Not  &c. 

Accordingly  On  Monday  the  15'^  Day  of  April  (the 
Day  Appointed  When  it  Came  We  Met  in  Saint 
Pauls  at  1  °  Clock  in  the  Afternoon,  And  On  this  Day 
As  the  Adjournment  from  Easter  Monday,  We  As- 
sembled Regularly  As  A  Parish  Meeting  Legally 
Warned,  And  Previous  To  the  Bringing  On  the  Buis- 
ness  Of  the  Meeting  Mr  Fayerweather  Acquainted 
The  Gentlemen  Present  That  He  had  at  their  Re- 
quest Invited  The  aforesaid  Mr  Whailey  the  Car- 
penter Who  Was  Now  at  the  Vestry  Room  So  Called, 
And  by  their  leave  Would  Send  for  him.  In  Conse- 
quence Of  Which  The  Clerk  of  the  Parish  Was  Sent 
to  Ask  him  To  Come  Among  Us,  Which  he  Did  for 
the  Purpose  Aforementioned, — Namely  To  Give  his 
Judgment  &  Opinion  of  the  Old  Church  of  Saint 
Pauls  Whether  it  Was  Worth  Repairing  Or  Not,This 
being  Referrd  to  Mr  Whailey  by  the  Gentlemen  Con- 
vened themselves  Which  had  been  Agreed  Upon  At 
a  former  Meeting  For  Mr  Whailey  to  Inspedl  The 
BuildingAs  A  Carpenter  thoroughly  both  Within  Side 
And  Without,  Which  having  been  Accordingly  Done 
by  him  In  Conjundion  With  Mr  Cole  Another  Car- 
penter A  North  Kingstown  Man  Whom  He  Chose 
to  be  his  Associate  Upon  that  Occasion  least  He 
Shoud  be  Suspedled  of  As  Guilty  Partiality, — We 
Were  this  Very  Day  Acquainted  In  Form  by  the  Said 


1771]  Church  Records  587 

Whailey&ColeThatThe  Old  Church  Was  in  a  Ruin- 
ous State  And  Almost  past  Repairing,  That  it  Might 
indeed  be  Patch'd  Up  for  a  While,  But  that  the  Cost 
of  the  Repairs  Wou'd  be  but  Little  Short  Of  Build- 
ing A  New  Church. 

The  Next  Question  Which  Came  Under  Considera- 
tion Was  The  Eredling  of  A  New  Church  Propos'd 
to  be  Built  on  the  Spot  of  Land  In  South  Kings- 
town Left  By  The  Late  Do6lor  MacSparran  On  the 
hill  Lot  So  Commonly  Call'd;  And  It  Was  Propos'd 
That  the  Matter  Shou'd  Not  be  Determind  by  the 
Usual  Sign  of  holding  Up  the  hand,  but  by  Redu- 
cing the  Point  To  the  Building  Of  A  New  Church 
And  To  be  Signified  By  Yea's  &  Nay's;  Upon  Which 
Occasion  Every  Person  Was  To  Declare  his  Senti- 
ments Viva  Voce  And  To  Assign  his  Reasons  for  & 
against  that  Measure.  We  then  Entred  into  a  Large 
&  full  Discussion  of  the  Matter  And  Upon  Sum- 
ming the  votes  It  Appear'd  That  There  Was  A  Ma- 
jority of  Six  In  favour  of  the  Question  —  And  There 
Were  Also  Four  Other  Distind;  Persons  Present 
Who  Declared  That  They  Would  have  no  vote  in 
the  Affair. — On  this  Meeting  The  Rev'  Mr  F— Pre- 
sided As  Moderator. — 

Herewith  is  Recorded  A  Copy  Of  the  Names  of  the 
Several  Persons  Present;  Distinguishing  Those  Who 
Voted  for,  AndThose  Who  Verbally  Declar'd  Against 
the  Question ;  Delineated  In  Two  Different  Columns, 
And  Drawn  Up  By  Mr  John  Gardner  one  of  the 
Wardens  of  Saint  Pauls  Church.  The  Different  Col- 
umns Stood  Thus  — 

Viz  Those  for  the  Building  Of  A  New  Church  On  the 
Hill  Lot  South  Kingstown  As  aforesaid  &  Against  Re- 
pairing St  Pauls  North  Kingstown  Aforesaid,  Were, 

Thomas  Browne 

Mathew  Robinson 

George  Browne 


588 


Church  Records 


[1771 


Carder  Hazard 
Robert  Browne 
Abiel  Browne 
John  Gardner 
Benjamin  Gardner 
Edward  Kelly 
Jeremiah  Browne 
Samuel  Gardner 

Those  Who  Were  for  Not  Building  A  New  Church, 
But  Who  Were  for  Repairing  The  Old  Church  of 
Saint  Pauls  As  They  Verbally  Declared, 
Viz,  Lodowick  Updike 
Peter  Phillips 
Benjamin  Jefferson 
Stephen  Bovyre 
& 
N  B  William  Davis 

Four  More  Persons  Were  Present  That  Declar'd 
They  Woud  have  No  Vote  in  the  Affair,  And  Did 
Not  Vote  at  all,  or  Permit  Their  names  To  be  Down 
in  Either  Of  the  Columns, —  and  These  are  here  In- 
serted As  Follow 

Viz,  William  Bizzell 
William  Cole 
Thomas  Cole 

& 
Captain  Sylvester  Gardner 
So  That,  Upon  The  Whole,  It  Appear'd  That  the 
Vote  Was  Clearly  and  Legally  The  Majority  In  fa- 
vour Of  Building  A  New  Church  On  the  Hill  Lot 
of  the  Late  Dodor  MacSparran' of  Eleven  To  Five: 
Or  in  Other  Words,  Six  More  for  Building  A  New 
CHURCH,Than  Repairing  The  Old  One. 
Attested 

By  John  GardinerWarden  of  S'  Pauls  Church. 
Likewise  By  Samuel  Fayerweather  The  Redor. 


177 1]  Church  Records  589 

Sunday  April  the  21"  Mr  F:  Preachd  At  Mr  Up- 
dikes  house  To  About  Forty  Souls,  Who  Were  Se- 
rious &  Attentive. 

Jpril  24''  Mr  F  Was  Sent  for  By  The  Wardens  Of 
Trinity  Church  Newport  To  Preach  In  that  Church 
As  A  Paul  Bearer  To  the  Late  Reverend  Pastor  Mr 
Browne  Which  He  Did  To  A  Numerous  &  Atten- 
tive Congregation  From  those  Words  Remember  them 
that  have  the  Rule  Over  Tou  IVho  have  Spoken  to  Tou 
the  Word  of  God^  Whose  Faith  follow  Considering  the 
End  of  their  Conversation 

May  the  16"'  Mr  F  Preachd  In  St  Pauls,  And  in  the 
Afternoon  of  Said  Day  He  Married  John  Moses  And 
Hannah  White  Who  had  Past  Through  Three  Dis- 
tinct Publications  According  To  Law:  The  Bride  Was 
Given  Away  By  Mr  Bovyre  Mr  Romes  Tenant. 

Sunday  May  ig"'  Mr  F  Preachd;  and  Publish'd  Mr 
Benjamin  Shermon  One  of  his  Church  To  Miss  Sarah 
Cook  of  Preston  in  Connedicut:  &  Out  publish'd 
him  as  the  Law  Dire6ts. 

On  Saturday  Evening  June  ic,*''  Mr  F  After  A  Return 
from  A  Short  Tour  Was  Call'd  Upon  To  Visit  A 
Young  Dying  Person  Miss  Sarah  Gardner  Daughter 
Of  the  Late  John  Gardner  Esq  of  Boston  Neck 
Whom  Mr  F:  Found  Adually  Dying  And  Prayed 
With  her:  Who  very  soon  After  Breathed  forth  her 
Last. 

On  Tuesday  the  18'''  of  June  Mr  F  Preach'd  her  Fu- 
neral Sermon  in  St  Pauls  Church,  And  Afterwards 
Performd  the  Burial  Service  At  the  Grave  before 
Many  Spectators. 

On  the  I'f  Mr  F  Preach'd  To  Young  People  from 
the  influence  of  the  before-mentiond  Death  from 
those  Words  '■'■  Remember  thy  Creator  in  the  Days  of 
thy  Touthr  After  Divine  Service  Mr  F  Was  Calld 


590  Church  Records  [1771 

on  to  Visit  A  Distressed  Parishoner  Deliverance  Sher- 
mon  Sick  &  Weak  Whom  He  Talk'd  Seriously  to, 
&  Pray'd  With. 

On  Friday  July  ig'^  Mr  F  Receivd  A  Pressing  Let- 
ter from  Capt  Robert  Browne  to  Go  to  his  house  And 
Baptize  A  Sick  Child.  The  Next  Morning  being  the 
lo"  Mr  F:  Christned  the  Said  Sick  Child,  And  An- 
other also  of  Capt  Brownes  Each  By  the  Names  of 
Peleg,  &  James, —  Peleg  Born  August  2'^  1769.  And 
James  Born  July  ii'*'  1771.  The  Sponsors  Mr  F — 
Captain  Browne  And  his  Wife  Elizabeth  Browne. 

Sunday  11"  of  July  Mr  F  administred  the  holy  Eu- 
charist in  St  Pauls  After  Preaching  A  Discourse  Suit- 
able to  the  Occasion. 

Sunday  July  2^'^  Mr  Fayerweather  Baptized  A  Young 
Lady  of  adult  Age  in  his  Church  of  St  Pauls  Nar- 
raganset  In  the  Presence  of  Fifty  six  Persons,  his 
Wifes  Neice  (Abigail  hazard  Commonly  Calld)  the 
Daughter  Of  George  Hazard  Esq  of  Newport  By  the 
Name  of  Abigail — And  her  Chosen  Witnesses  Were 
Mr  F  Mrs  F —  And  Captain  Jeffersons  Wife  And 
A  Sermon  Mr  F  Preach'd,  Adapted  to  the  Solemn 
Occasion. 

On  the/rj/  &  16"'  of  Sep"  Mr  F —  both  preachd,  & 
Administred  the  holy  Eucharist  In  St  Pauls  Church 
Narragansit,  to  A  few. 

On  the  17'^  Sott  Off  for  the  Convention  Of  Boston 
before  Whom  The  Revd  Mr  Bass  of  Newbury  Preachd 
from  those  Words  For  I  am  Not  ashamd  Of  the  Gos- 
pel Of  Christ  ^c  Fifteen  Episcopal  Clergymen  At- 
tended in  all. 

23'^  Mr  F  officiated  At  Kings  Chappel  &  Trinity 
church  Boston. 

On  tht  first  of  05loher  Mr  F  preachd  in  St  Pauls  & 
administred  the  Sacrament  to  Nine  Communicants. 


lyyi]  Church  Records  591 

On  the  13"'  of  the  Month  Mr  F  Preachd  at  St  Pauls  to 
40  Souls,  And  the  last  time  He  preach'd  there  for  A 
Considerable  Space  by  reason  of  the  Roof  of  St  Pauls 
Church  being  taken  off,  by  A  Number  that  did  not 
Concurr  With  the  Vote  for  Building  A  New  Church 
On  Dr  MacSparran's  hill  lot  belonging  Now  to  the 
Parsonage. 

On  Saturday  the  ig'^  of  05loher  towards  Evening  A 
Daughter  of  the  Parish  Clerk  brought  A  letter  from 
Peter  Phillips  Esq^  to  the  Parsonage  Which  Mr  F — 
Receivd,  One  of  the  Church  Wardens^  Dated  the  i  y'*" 
Day  of  Odtober,  Wherein  He  Acquaints  him  Viz 
"That  the  Roof  of  St  Pauls  Church  North  Kings- 
"town  is  Taken  off  in  order  to  put  A  New  One  On, 
"therefore  it  Will  Not  be  fit,  he  adds,  to  hold  Church 
"in  Until  Repaired."  In Consequenceof Which 6'z/«(3!Vy 
20'''  October  We  had  the  beginning  of  Silent  Sundays 
for  A  long  Space,  And  As  A  difference  Arose  at  first 
about  the  Vote,  so  it  Now  heightnd. 

On  the  if^  of  05iober  Mr  F —  being  Earnestly  Re- 
quested by  A  letter  from  the  Revd  Mr  Usher  in  Bris- 
tol He  being  Sick  Went  forth  to  his  Aid  &  Releif 
And  Preachd  for  him  both  parts  of  the  Day  In  his 
Church  to  A  full  &  Attentive  A  Congregation. 

In  advent  Mr  F  Preachd  Preachd  \jic\  for  the  Revd 
Mr  Bisset  In  Newport  by  Earnest  Desire  &c. 

On  the  25'''  of  December  Christmas  Mr  F —  Attended 
Trinity  Church  Newport  And  Communicated  At  the 
altar.  Above  200  Members  present. 

On  the  30'''  it  being  About  the  Usual  time  for  offici- 
ating in  private  houses,  Mr  F  began  at  his  Own  Man- 
sion During  the  Remaining  Difficult  Season  of  Win- 
ter, And  his  Topick  Was  Love  &  Charity,  As  Our 
Unhappy  Controversy  Was  increasing  between  North 
&  South  Kingston  Parishoners. 


592  Church  Records  [1772 

Anno  Domini  1772 

On  the  5"'  Jan'  Mr  F  Preachd  At  Widow  Gardners 
On  the  Subjedl  of  the  New  Year.  Sixty  hearers. 

On  the  9'^'  Mr  F —  Receivd  a  Letter  from  the  Church 
Warden  (of  Newport)  to  Attend  As  A  Paul  bearer 
to  the  Revd  Mr  Keith  his  old  Friend  &  Once  his  Prae- 
decessor  in  George  Town  South  Carolina —  And  to 
preach  A  Funeral  Sermon  On  Sunday  Morning  On 
the  Occasion  Which  he  Did  the  Very  day  After  the 
Interment  In  Trinity  Church  Newport,  to  A  full 
Auditory. 

On  the  19'''  ofjan'  Mr  F —  Was  Sent  for  to  Bury  in 
St  Pauls  Church  Yard  the  Corpse  of  Mr  Thomas 
Phillips,  &  tho'  the  Severest  Day  imaginable  On  Ac- 
count of  Snow  &  tempest  Mr  F  Officiated  At  the 
Grave,  &  Preach'd  A  Short  Discourse  by  the  Desire 
of  the  Son  in  law  Mr  henry  Wall  before  A  very  Small 
Company  of  hearers. 

On  the  Month  Oi February  throughout,  Mr  F  Preachd 
Among  the  Neighbours. 

March  the  i"  Mr  F  Preachd  at  Colonel  Joseph  Ha- 
zard's A  Gent"  Not  of  the  Church  of  England^  therefore 
Mr F  took  Occasion  to  Recommend  Christianity^  the 
profession  of  it  to  A  full  &  A  Grave  Auditory.  N  B. 
This  Gent"  Oneof  the  Govrs  Council  &  of  those  Who 
are  Calld  Friends  .  .  . 

March  the  ig'''  Mr  F  Engagd  to  officiate  in  holy  things 
at  a  Neighbour's,  but  prevented  by  bad  Wheather,  But 
On  Pa/m  Sunday  it  being  the  la'''  of  April  He  com- 
plied With  the  Request,  &  the  rather  As  the  Neigh- 
bour Was  One  of  the  Vestry  Who  had  just  Returnd 
from  A  Dangerous  Voyage  from  old  England,  And 
offerd  Up  his  Thankfulness  to  God  for  his  Good- 
ness to  him  &c  &c. 
On  the  16'^  April  'Thursday  Evening  In  Presence  of 


177^]  Church  Records  593 

Many  Witnesses  Mr  F  Married  Mr  Sylvester  Sweet 
To  Miss  Martha  Whailey  of  Narraganset — After  A 
Regular  Publication  Of  Bands,  As  the  Law  Dire6ls, 
The  Bride  being  Given  Away  by  her  Father  Jeremiah 
Whailey  One  of  the  Descendants  of  old  Col  Whailey 
Who  Came  Away  from  Great  Brittain  On  being  One 
of  the  Regicides,  of  King  Charles  the  first  of  Ever 
blessed  Memory,  &  Who  Sat  in  the  Mock  Court 
Before  Which  That  Excellent  Prince,  That  Blessed 
Martyr  Was  Arraign'd  &  Tried  &  Condemnd,  & 
Who  Was  Calld  proverbially  (in  the  Day  of  it)  One  of 
King  Charles  Judges. 

On  Good  Friday  &'  Easter  Sunday  No  Publick  Service 
of  the  Church;  Neither  On  Easter  Monday  No  New 
Church  Officers  Chosen  by  Reason  of  St  Paul's  Church 
Not  being  in  Order,  &  the  People's  Not  Meeting  At 
Said  Season.  Of  Course,  All  the  Church  officers  Who 
Were  Chosen  the  last  Year  Continued  this  present 
Year  in  their  Respe6tive  Offices. 

Still  officiating  Among  the  Neighbours  &  Parishoners 
of  St  Pauls  Mr  F —  On  the  7'^  of  June  having  Receivd 
Two  orthreeDistindl  letters  from  An  Ancient  &truely 
Honble  Society  in  Boston  to  Preach  to  them  On  a  par- 
ticular &  Laudable  Occasion  Sat  Out  On  the  Eighth 
day  of  the  Month  for  the  purpose,  taking  Warwick 
&  Providence  in  his  Way  &  Officiating  at  both  those 
places  by  Desire  of  the  Revd  Mr  Greaves,  from  Which 
two  flocks  he  Gaind  a  most  Serious  &  An  Attentive 
Audience  —  But  the  Occasion  of  Mr  F — s  Journey  to 
Boston  Was  to  celebrate  the  Festival  of  Saint  John,  & 
Adapt  A  Discourse  Immediately  to  that  Occasion 
And  to  that  Day  [something  erased  here~\.  Which  he 
Did  Jt  Christ's  Church  Of  Which  The  Reverend  Doc- 
tor Mather  Byles  the  Pastor  Read  Prayers  On  the 
Occasion,  Where  Was  the  Most  Brilliant  &  Splendid 
As  Well  as  Numerous  Assembly  [something  erased~\ 


594  Church  Records  [1772 

in  that  large  &  Populous  Town.  After  Divine  Service 
A  Grand  Procession  from  the  Church  follow'd  With 
all  the  Grand  Officers  Cloathd  &  Adorn'd  with  their 
Robes  &  Jewels  to  illustrate  the  Splendor  &  Magni- 
ficence of  the  Day  &  Do  honour  To  Saint  John  the 
Baptist  Who  both  by  Praecept  &  Example  Ever  In- 
culcated the  Christian  Doftrine  With  Emphasis  "Of 
Loving  One  Another." — This  Celebration  Was  On 
the  i/[!^  Day  of  June  \']"]i. 

On  the  28'''  Mr  F  officiated  in  Kings  Chappel  for  the 
Revd  D'  Caner,  and  for  the  Rev**  Mr  Walter  Trinity 
Church  Boston. 

July  18"'  Mr  F  Sat  Out  from  Boston  On  his  Return 
home  by  the  Way  of  Tauntown  And  Administred 
there  the  Sacred  Ordinance  of  Baptism  To  A  Male 
Child  of  Mr  James  Hill  Merchant  &  Grand  Child  of 
the  late  Rev''  Do6lor  Sewal  A  Dissenting  Teacher  In 
Boston — Whose  Zeal  Was  always  Remarkably  Dis- 
tinguishd  Against  the  Church  of  England,  particu- 
larly her  Forms  &  Ceremonies,  &  that  in  Special  As 
to  the  Rite  of  Baptism.  The  Ordinance  Was  per- 
formd  At  Colonel  Whites  in  Taunton,  The  Sponsors 
Were  Mr  Hill  &  Wife  the  Child's  Natural  Parents, 
&  Aunt,  And  the  Name  of  the  little  Infantile  Was 
James  After  it's  Father's  Name. 

Mr  F —  Preachd  In  his  Own  Parish  the  ni^  of  the 
Month  Among  his  Parishioners,  And  so  throughout 
the  Month  Of  August  <y  September  &c — 

Sunday  the  12"'  of  September  Mr  F —  Preachd  at  Wil- 
liam Davis's  Where  A  Proposal  Was  Made  by  him 
to  Give  Notice  to  the  Parish  in  General  to  Meet  Next 
Day,  Monday  the  13'*'  at  Ray  Sands  Esq  to  Estab- 
lish Peace  between  the  Contending  Parties  Respe6l- 
ing  the  Building  of  A  New  Church  Or  Repairing  the 
old  One  —  At  this  Meeting  Most  of  the  Gentlemen 
Of  North  Kingstown  present  Who  Was  On  the  side 


1772]  church  Records  595 

for  Repairing  St  Pauls  O  Requested  The  hundred 
Pounds  L  M  Might  be  Given  Up  Of  Squire  Cases's 
Legacy  (Which  they  were  laying  A  foundation  for  by 
Application  to  the  Superior  Court)  And  to  be  Ap- 
propriated to  the  Use  &  Design  of  Repairing  &c  And 
but  few  present  of  those  in  the  South  Who  had 
Abetted  the  Cause  Of  Building  A  New  Church  & 
Voted  for  it:  But  Now  Not  So  Sanguine  in  that  Cause 
for  Peace  Sake,  Acquiesc'd  in  the  Salutary  Measure 
Of  the  North  Kingstown  People  As  to  their  Request 
for  Said  hundred  Pounds.  This  Mr  F  Discoverd  by 
visiting  them.  And  he  Earnestly  Wishing  Peace  To 
his  little  flock,  to  his  Whole  Congregation  &  Dili- 
gently persuing  it  Desird  to  have  No  voice  As  to  Vot- 
ing One  Way  or  Another  and  withdrew  leaving  all 
Matters  in  Controversy  to  be  Decided  by  the  Par- 
ishoners  Themselves:  Which  Was  Done  &  of  Course 
the  Operation  Of  A  Certain  Mandamus  Ceasd  As  to 
the  Minister's  Not  Granting  Or  Signing  A  Certifi- 
cate In  An  Ex  parte  Manner  for  the  Reception  Of  Said 
Money  Of  one  hundred  Pounds  Either  of  the  Sur- 
viving Reli6t  of  the  late  John  Case  Esqr  Or  his  Exec- 
utors As  to  his  last  Will  &  Testament:  Which  He 
the  said  Minister  Declared  Against  that  he  Might  be 
And  Remain  for  Ever  Blameless,  And  That  Peace, 
harmony.  And  the  Most  Christian  Concord  might  be 
fix'd  And  Settled  Upon  the  Most  Sure  &  Lasting 
Foundations. 

N.  B.  The  Aforesaid  hundred  Pounds  Was  Obtaind 
in  the  following  Manner,  viz,  Mr  John  Gardner  & 
Peter  Phillips  Esq  being  the  Church  Wardens  of  St 
Pauls  became  obligated  To  Mrs  Case  The  Surviving 
Reli6l  Of  the  Late  John  Case  Esq'  Upon  her  paying 
Said  Legacy  of  One  hundred  Pounds  for  the  afore- 
mentioned Use  of  Repairing  the  old  Church  of  St 
Pauls,  to  see  her  Indemnified:  And  A  Number  of 
Persons  present  (As  Mr  F —  Was  informd)  became 


596  Church  Records  [1772 

Obligated  to  those  Two  Gentlemen  As  Wardens  by 
An  instrument  of  Writing  In  Case  Any  Dispute  Or 
Claim  Afterwards  shoud  happen  Or  Arise  from  Those 
(in  Opposition)  Who  had  voted  for  the  building  of  A 
New  Church  &c  Accordingly  the  Aforesaid  hundred 
Pounds  lawful  Money  Was  Actually  paid  into  their 
the  Church  Wardens  hands,  &  Appropriated  &c. 

On  the  22*^  of05ioher  Mr  F  Went  to  Newport  on  Ne- 
cesary  buisness  And  on  his  Returning  from  thence 
He  Was  Requested  to  Baptize  A  young  Child  Whose 
Parents  Belongd  To  his  Majestys  Sloop  the  Swan 
Commanded  by  Captain  Aiscough  Which  he  Com- 
plied With  in  his  Neighbours  house  Silas  Gardners 
At  the  ferry;  The  Childs  Name  Was  Elizabeth,  The 
Father  And  Mothers'  Name  Was  Fisher,  Both  from 
Old  England,  And  the  Sponsors  belongd  to  the  Ship 
Also. 

On  the  31"  Mr  F  Preachd  in  his  Own  Parish  in  the 
house  of  Mr  Abiel  Brown  A  Funeral  Sermon:  On 
the  Death  of  his  Young  Child. 

On  the  \2'^  of  December  Mr  F —  Officiated  At  the  Par- 
sonage it  being  the  3'^  Sunday  in  Advent  to  About  forty 
Souls.  And  in  the  Evening  of  Said  Day  Mr  F —  being 
Sent  for  at  Capt  Samuel  Gardner's  He  Married  Mr 
John  Gardner  Son  of  the  late  John  Gardner  Esq  of 
Boston  Neck  (So  Distinguish'd)  To  Miss  Sarah  Gard- 
ner Eldest  Daughter  of  Samuel  Whom  he  had  before 
Published  three  Distind:  times  As  the  Law  of  the 
Colony  Direfts;  The  Bride  Was  Given  Away  by  her 
Father  About  half  An  hour  After  4  °  Clock  in  the  Pre- 
sence of  Sundry  Witnesses. — On  the  11^  Mr  F 
Buried  Mrs  handy  [?]  &  preachd. 

On  Christmas  Day  Mr  F — officiated  Again  At  the 
Parsonage  And  And  \jic'\  Preachd  a  Sermon  Suitable 
to  the  Joyful  Occasion 


1773] 


Church  Records 


597 


Anno  Domini  1773. 

Mr  F — According  to  his  Usual  &  Constant  Method 
Gave  his  People  A  New  Years  Sermon,  and  as  his 
Preaching  Was  frequently  Occasional,  &  Adapted  to 
the  Seasons,  &  particular  Occurrences  of  Divine  Pro- 
vidence, So  in  the  Whole  time  of  Vacation,  He  Offi- 
ciated alternatively  at  the  Different  houses  of  his  Peo- 
ple just  As  he  Was  Disir'd  Among  the  Poor  As  Well 
As  the  Rich,  Giving  to  Every  one  his  portion  in  Due 
Season — that  all  might  profit  by  the  Means  of  Grace 
And  None  Might  be  Negleded. 

On  Easter  Sunday,  it  being  April  11''',  Mr  F  — 
Preachd  In  the  old  Church  of  St  Pauls  North  Kings- 
town, it  being  so  Repaird  As  to  the  outside  &  Roof 
of  it,  that  the  Congregation  Cou'd  Converse  in  it, 
tho'  little  or  Nothing  done  inside.  Where  Mr  F — 
has  not  officiated  since  Odlober  the  20'*"  1771. 

And  At  A  Meeting  holden  On  Easter  Monday 
April  the  ii""  1773  at  St  Pauls  Church  North  Kings- 
town, The  following  Gentlemen  Were  Chosen  And 
Regularly  Appointed  Church  Wardens  &  Vestry  Men 
for  the  present  Ensuing  Year  Nemine  Contradicente 
Wardens  Viz  Peter  Phillips  \ 

John  Gardner  f 


Vestry  Men 


Lodowick  Updike 
Mathew  Robinson 
Capt  Robert  Brown 
William  Cole 
Sylvester  Gardner 
Ray  Sands 
William  Davis 
Thomas  Brown 
Capt  Benjamin  Jefferson 

& 
Stephen  Bov'yer. 


598  Church  Records  [1773 

May  the  lo"'  In  Consequence  of  Several  Applications 
from  Kings  Chappel  Boston  to  help  their  Two  Pas- 
tors, Both  of  them  being  taken  Off  from  their  Spirit- 
ual labours  by  bodily  Illness.  And  in  Consequence  of 
An  Address  by  A  particular  letter  To  Mr  F —  from 
The  Rev'^  Dodlor  Caner  Who  Very  pressingly  Re- 
quested his  Assistance —  Mr  F —  Went  forth  to  Bos- 
ton and  preach'd  in  Kings  Chappel  for  four  Sundays 
Succeeding. 

Beginning  X^^vt  first  Sunday  after  £<2J'/^r  Which  Was  the 
I V"  April  to  the  1 6'^  May  In  Which  time  He  did  the 
Constant  Duty  Not  only  of  Preaching  the  Gospel  But 
Administring  the  Sacrament  of  Baptism,  &  Several 
times  the  H  oly  Eucharist,  Besides  Burying  their  Dead; 
And  on  A  Sunday  Once  Within  the  4  Weeks  Ex- 
chang'd  Pulpits  With  The  Reverend  Mr  Walter  Of 
Trinity  Church  By  his  Special  Desire.  Three  or  four 
Children  Mr  F  Christned  In  Kings  Chappel  On  this 
Tour,  And  of  them  one  was  A  Child  of  Mr  Deploiss's 
[Deblois]  &  the  other  A  Child  of  Mr  Silby's  [Selby] 
the  organist  of  Kings  Chappel. 

Returnd  to  Narraganset,  Preachd  to  his  Own  little 
flock  On  the  23I 

On  Whitsunday  Mr  F —  administred  the  Holy  Com- 
munion to  A  few;  in  his  Own  Church.  In  the  Months 
oi  June  July  &  August  Mr  F — .  attended  Constantly 
at  St  Pauls,  Only  Exchanging  Once  With  The  Revd 
Mr  Wheeler  by  his  Most  importunate  Request  As- 
sistant To  Mr.  Bisset  in  Newport.  And  Twice  in  that 
Period  Administrd  the  Lords  Supper. — The  Whole 
Land  being  Afflided  for  the  Season  With  A  Melan- 
choly &  Distressing  Drought  Mr  F  Improv'd  in  A 
Course  of  Sermons;  in  his  Own  Church  And  in  Two 
Deliver'd  In  Trinity  Church  Newport  On  the  Day 
of  the  Aforementiond  Exchange  With  Mr  Wheeler. 

On  the  Sixth  Of  September  Mr  F — Journey'd  to  Boston 


1773]  Church  Records  599 

to  Attend  the  Annual  Convention  Of  the  Reverend 
Episcopal  Clergy — And  the  2''  Wednesday  which  Was 
the  Eighth  day  of  the  Month  in  Sepr  We  Met;  &  before 
the  Convention  The  Revd  Mr  Winslow  preach'd 
from  those  Words  "//  is  Good  to  be  Zealously  Affe£led 
in  a  Good  Cause. 

The  Reverend  Convention  having  been  Applied  to 
from  the  Church  of  England  At  Portsmouth  New 
Hampshire  in  their  Destitute  State  being  Deprived 
Of  their  Worthy  Pastor  The  Revd  Mr  Brown  to  be 
Supplied  With  Preaching,  They  Agreed  to  Supply 
them  Six  Sundays,  Provided  Mr  F —  would  Consent 
to  Assist  them  As  One  of  the  Six,  And  to  take  the 
first  for  his  Choice:  Accordingly  by  the  desire  of  the 
Reverend  Convention  then  Met  at  Dr  Caner's  House 
Mr  F —  Sot  off  from  Boston  Friday  the  10'''  of  Sepr ^ 
AndPreachd  In  Portsmouth  Church,which  He  found 
to  be  a  Small  but  A  Gay  and  Shining  Congregation 
in  Resped;  to  Dress  &  Appearance.  In  his  Way  thither 
through  the  falls  of  Newbury,  He  offered  A  Young 
Gentleman  As  A  Pupil  One  of  his  Neighbours  Son's 
from  his  Parish  In  the  Narraganset  Country,  To  the 
Dummer  School  A  Most  Charitable  foundation  of  the 
Late  Lieutenant  Governor  Dummer  Boston,  Mr 
Samuel  Moody  The  Proeceptor  or  Master  of.  Who 
kindly  Accepted  him. 

On  the  19'''  Sepr  Mr  F —  Officiated  At  Kings  Chap- 
pel  in  Boston  for  The  Revd  Mr  TroutbeckThe  Kings 
Chaplin.  Mr  F  Preachd  at  Warwick  &  addressd  him- 
self to  a  Young  Person  Who  [had]  been  Raisd  from  the 
Gates  of  Death  &c. 

In  the  Beginning  of  O^oher  Mr  F —  Officiated  in  his 
Own  Church  Of  St  Pauls  Narraganset. 
Wednesday  the  ij"*  of  O^oher  1773.  This  Day  Was 
Baptized  John,  The  First  Born  Son  of  John  &  Sally 
Gardner,  Of  Boston  Neck  at  their  house,  By  The  Re- 


6oo  Church  Records  [1773-4 

verend  Mr  Fayerweather  About  half  An  hour  after 
three  "Clock  in  the  afternoon  of  said  day.  The  Spon- 
sors Were  Mrs  Abigail  Fayerweather,  John  &  Benja- 
min Gardner  &  present  there  Were  Divers  Witnesses. 
The  First  Sunday  In  November  Mr  F —  Preachd  In 
St  Pauls  &  Administred  the  Holy  Communion. 

On  Christmas  Day  Adapted  A  Discourse  to  the  joyful 
Occasion,  And  Though  the  Sacrament  Of  the  Lords 
Supper  Was  administerd  by  A  previous  Notice  (the 
Sunday  before)  being  Given  thereof.  And  the  Usual 
Exhortation  Read,  Yet  the  Number  Of  Communi- 
cants Was  Comparatively  few!  Very  few. 

"At  February  Sessions  in  Providence  in  the  Year 
of  Our  Lord  One  thousand  Seven  hundred  &  Sixty 
Nine  It  Was  Voted  And  Resolved,  That  All  Lands, 
or  other  Real  Estates,  Granted  or  Purchased  for  Re- 
ligious Uses,  Or  for  Other  Uses  of  Schools,  within 
this  Colony  be,  And  the  Same  Are  hereby  Exempted 
from  Taxation." 

"  Nota  Bene,"  This  Memorandum  Shoud  have  been 
Entred  into  this  Book  of  Records  Diredly  After  it  was 
Registerd  in  the  Journals  of  the  General  Assembly  Of 
the  Colony,  or  As  Soon  As  the  Aft  pass'd.  But  Mr 
F —  Not  being  favourd  With  A  Copy  of  it  till  very 
lately,  it  Comes  in  here  though  so  long  After  the  Date 
of  it.  And  Mr  F —  by  Meer  Accident  hearing  of  Such 
An  Aft's  being  Made  procur'd  A  Certificate  of  it  by 
Applying  To  One  of  the  Members  of  the  honour- 
able house  of  Assembly  for  the  Sole  benefit  and  Es- 
pecial Advantage  of  his  Successors  in  the  Ministry  at 
St  Pauls  Church  Narraganset  Time  Immemorial." 

1774 

On  t\\Q  first  of  January  1774  Mr  F  Officiated  at  St 
Pauls,  And  Continued  to  Attend  there  till  Feb''  6* 
When  the  Severity  of  the  Season  Obligd  him  to  have 


1774]  Church  Records  6oi 

Recourse  to  Preaching  in  the  Respedive  houses  Of 
his  Parishoners. 

On  the  fourth  of  March  Mr  F —  Preachd  A  funeral 
Sermon  at  the  Widow  hazards,  the  Surviving  Relidl 
of  the  late  Dr  Hazards  On  the  Death  Of  her  Daugh- 
ter And  Many  Auditors  Present. 
On  the  6'''  {fS  3''  Sunday  in  Lent)  On  Occasion  of  A 
fire  the  Night  before  Close  in  the  Neighbourhood 
Within  but  two  Doors  of  the  Parsonage  house — 
When  the  house  of  Mr  Abial  Browns  Was  Con- 
sumed to  the  Ground  but  thro'  Divine  Goodness  No 
lives  Were  Lost. 

Easter  Monday  Went  to  St  Pauls,  But  No  Church 
Officers  Were  Chosen  by  Reason  of  so  few  being  pre- 
sent of  the  Parish,  notwithstanding  previous  Notice 
Was  Given  of  it  the  Day  before. 

On  friday  the  8'''  of  April  Colonel  Ephraim  Gardner 
A  Member  in  full  Communion  With  St  Pauls  Church 
Was  Seizd  in  his  field  With  An  Apoplexy;  And  On 
Sunday  the  lo""  Died,  and  On  Wednesday  the  13'''  He 
Was  Buried  —  Before  his  Interment  his  Corpse  Was 
Carried  into  St  Pauls  Church  Where  a  Funeral  Ser- 
mon Was  preachd  by  Mr.  F —  by  the  Desire  of  the 
Bereaved  Family  to  A  very  large  Serious  &  Attentive 
Congregation  Consisting  As  it  Was  Judgd  of  above 
300  People.  After  Divine  Service  was  over  The  fu- 
neral Obsequies  Was  Carried  in  Procession  to  the 
Farm  of  Capt  Samuel  Gardners  And  Buried  there 
After  the  Manner  &  According  to  the  Method  of 
the  Church  of  England. 

Saturday  the  o.^^  Of  April  Mr  F  visited  Mrs  Molly 
Gardner  the  Surviving  Reli6l  of  the  late  John  Gard- 
ner Esq  of  Boston  Neck  Very  Sick  &  Dangerously 
ill  (whom  he  had  visited  several  times  before)  with 
Whom  he  Prayed,  &  of  whom  he  took  A  Respedlful 
leave  As  A  Member  in  full  Communion  With  his 


6o2  Church  Records  [1774 

Church  Never  Expeding  to  See  her  Alive  Again,  & 
Commended  her  Soul  into  the  hands  of  God  As  to 
her  faithful  Creator  &  Redeemer.  And  On  Next  Day- 
Morning  it  being  Sunday  Morning  About  lo  "Clock 
She  Died  and  just  After  Divine  Service  Was  Over 
Mr  F  Receivd  An  Account  Of  her  Death  in  A  let- 
ter from  her  Elder  Son  John  Who  Requested  with 
the  Rest  Of  the  Bereaved  family  &  Friends  A  Fu- 
neral Sermon  On  the  Day  of  her  Interment  which 
Was  tuesday  the  16"'  of  April  1774;  And  On  the  Said 
Day  A  Sermon  Accordingly  Was  Preachd  by  Mr  F — 
At  St  Pauls  Church  before  A  large  Congregation  of 
About  three  hundred  Souls :  After  Which  Mrs  Gard- 
ner Was  buried  in  the  Church  Yard  According  to  the 
Rites  [and]  Ceremonies  of  the  Church  of  England. 

On  the  14'''  of  June  On  A  Tour  from  home  Mr  F — r 
Was  Requested  to  administer  the  Ordinance  Of  Bap- 
tism to  A  Woman  in  adult  Age  (Unknown  to  him) 
Whose  husband  Was  at  Sea  She  Expelling  to  Draw 
Near  An  hour  of  peril  And  Difficulty. 

On  the  15"'  Of  August  A  Parish  Meeting  Was  Calld 
And  Voted  the  Same  Officers  in  to  be  Continued 
through  the  present  Year  that  Were  in  And  Servd  the 
last  Nemine  Contradicente  by  the  Usual  Sign  of  hold- 
ing Up  the  hands. 

On  the  14*^  of  September  the  1^  Wednesday  in  the 
Month  Mr  F —  Met  the  Reverend  Convention  Of 
Episcopal  Clergy  In  Boston,  Went  to  Kings  Chappel 
&  heard  The  Rev"^  Mr  Ssargeant  Of  Cambridge 
preach  from  those  Words  If  ye  know  these  things  happy 
Are  Ye  ifTe  Do  them;  The  General  present  AndDind 
With  the  Clergy  at  Dr  Caners  &  1 9  Clergymen  present. 

The  1 5'*"  Convention  of  the  Clergy  at  Dr  Caners  house 
Sot  Again,  And  Unanimously  Made  Choice  Of  the 
Revd  Mr  F —  to  be  their  Preacher  On  the  1^  Wednes- 
day in  the  Next  September^  '^77 S>  ^^^  Tht  Revd  Mr 


1774]  Church  Records  603 

Bailey  to  Read  Prayers,  On  that  Annual  And  Much 
to  be  Esteemed  Occasion. 

On  Sunday  1 6"" past  Trinity  &  i  S""  of  the  Month  Septem- 
ber Mr  F —  Preachd  At  Kings  Chappel  for  the  Kings 
Chaplin  The  Revd  Mr  Troutbeck,  before  General 
Gage  &  his  Officers  at  Boston  &  before  A  very  Nu- 
merous &  Polite  Assembly  from  those  Words  Be 
kindly  Affe5lioned  one  towards  Another  in  Brotherly  Love. 

On  the  1^  of  05ioher  The  Revd  Mr  Parker  Assistant 
Minister  To  the  Revd  Mr  Walter  at  Trinity  Church 
Boston  Preach'd  At  St  Pauls  Narraganset  by  A  pro- 
posal Of  An  Exchance  \jic\  &c. 

On  the  iif  of  Oaoher  The  Revd  Mr  William  Clark 
of  Dedham  Exchang'd  with  Mr  F —  And  Preachd  in 
St  Pauls  Narraganset. 

On  Sunday  the  Sixth  Of  November  1774  Mr  F — r  be- 
ing Requested  by  Judge  Browne  to  Preach  On  the 
death  Of  ANeice  Of  his  Mr  George  Brownes  Daugh- 
ter of  About  Two  Years  Old,  Mr  F —  Preachd  to  A 
large  Concourse  of  people  A  funeral  Sermon. 

\_Supplementary  Entries, from  April  11,  1743,/^  May  15, 
1757,  some  of  which,  apparently,  had  been  inadvertently 
omitted  in  their  proper  places,  and  others  given  less  fully  7\ 

George  Browne  Son  of  william,  born  Septr  30  1721 
died  April  y*"  iq}  1743  and  was  buryed  by  Dr  Mac- 
Sparran  in  his  Fathers  Ground  on  Tower  Hill  the  11'^ 
of  Said  Month 

Elizabeth  Sherman  a  Consumptive  Maiden  Daugh- 
ter of  Elisha  Sherman  of  north  Kingstowne  who  had 
clinick  Baptism  administred  to  her  the  10'''  of  March 
1746,  died  Friday  march  if^  the  Same  Month,  and 
was  interred  by  Dodor  MacSparran  (who  also  preached 
her  funeral  Sermon)  in  her  Fa''  Ground  in  the  Family 
burying  Place 


6o4  Church  Records  [1774 

William  Chappel  dyed  on  Thursday  or  Friday  in 
Feb:  1746  being  the  6"'  or  7""  Day,  and  was  buried 
on  Sunday  /  8'^'  by  Doftor  MacSparran  in  Smiths 
burying  Place  in  Boston  Neck,  and  preached  his  Fu- 
neral Sermon 

Elizabeth  Thomas,  prius  Philips  mo'  of  Tho'  & 
Christopher  Philips  &  wife  of  Sam'  their  Fa'  died 
Tuesday  Morning  ab'  9  of  the  clock  June  7"^  &  was 
buried  in  S' Paul's  church-yard  &  her  Funeral  Sermon 
preached  by  D'  MacSparran  'Thursday  the  ^'^  of  Said 
June  1748  She  was  aged      years 

Margret  Sherman  wife  of  Stephen  Sherman  of  N° 
kingstowne  died  Nov'  17'''  &  was  buryed  Nov''  18'''  by 
Dr  MacSparran  in  the  Shermans  burying  Ground, 
her  maiden  name  was  Margret  Hackstone 

Jonathan  Green  of  Warwick  Taylor  having  recived 
clinick  Baptism  at  y*"  Hands  of  m'  Checkly,  on  Satur- 
day^ January  28;  died  Sunday  29""  Dodor  MacSparran 
being  sent  for,  got  to  Warwick  monday  night  30"",  on 
Tuesday  3 1  preached  s^  Green's  funeral  Sermon  and 
buryed  him  in  the  burying  Place  of  Samuel  Stafford 
his  wive's  Fa' 

Wednesday  Feb.  i"  1748  the  Dodor  read  Prayers  and 
preached  at  m"  Lippets,  had  a  long  conference  with 
Moses  Lippet  her  Eldest  Son  and  baptized  him  y*" 
next  Day  viz  Candlemass  by  Immersion  at  y*"  Tail  of 
his  Grist  Mill 

Feb  28'"  1748  Sam'  Phillips  Son  of  Tho^  Phillips  aged 
twenty  two  years  last  July  was  buried  by  D'  Mac- 
Sparran in  S'  Pauls  Cch  y  ard  a  Funeral  Sermon  preached 
by  the  Dodtor  on  y'  Occasion 

Decern"  21"  1749  was  interred  Elish  Sherman  Jun'  Son 
of  Elisha  Sherman  by  D'  macSparran  who  preached 
a  Funeral  Sermon  on  y'  occasion  y'  \jic\  said  Sher- 
man's 


1774]  Church  Records  605 

March  G^  1749  I  buried  Rose  Phillips  a  Negro  wo- 
man of  Tho'  Phillips's  in  St  Paul's  Cch  yard,  She  had 
been  sick  4  years,  was  a  coicant  in  y"  church,  lived  & 
died  a  good  Xn 

January  5'^  1750  at  1  of  the  clock  in  y^  morning  of 
Said  Day  died  Anthony  Dickson  after  an  Illness  of 
above  3  years  and  half  and  was  buryed  in  St  Pauls 
chhyard  Jan.y'  7''' 

July  1 9'*"  [i  75 1]  being  Friday,  early  in  the  morning  died 
Capt  Benoni  Sweet  of  N:  Kingstowne  in  y*"  90""  year 
of  his  Age,  into  w'^''  year  90  he  entered  the  28'''  Day 
of  March  last.  Dr  MacSparran  preached  his  Funeral 
Sermon  on  Saturday  the  10'^  and  buried  him  in  y^ 
Cemetery  of  his  Ancestors 

Xtopher  Phillips  of  North  Kingstown  died  May  1 1'*" 
1757  He  did  not  Send  for  his  Min' to  visit  him  in 
his  Sickness  and  was  buryed  w'""'  any  Service  I  omit 
recording  the  occasion  of  his  neglecting  his  Pastor  as 
it  would  not  redound  to  the  honour  of  his  memory. 
And  notwithstanding  y"  abuse  done  to  y^  Pastor  he 
would  have  willingly  done  his  Duty  to  him,  living  and 
dead  had  he  been  called  upon 

Colonel  Daniel  Updike  of  N°  Kingstowne  died  on 
Sunday  y""  15""  of  May  1757  ab'  Noon  and  after  a  Fu- 
neral Sermon  preached  by  Dr  MacSparran  was  interred 
in  y"  burying  Ground  of  y*"  Family  between  ye  Corpse 
of  his  Fa',  &  second  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Anstis  Jenkins  mo'  of  Lodowick  &  Mary  Updike  y^ 
surving  \_sic~\  children 


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Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


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